Aaron Rodgers

NFL QB Rumors: Rodgers, Wilson, Ward

March 22nd, 2025 at 11:39pm CST by Ely Allen

Yesterday, we saw free agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers meet with a Steelers contingent that featured general manager Omar Khan, head coach Mike Tomlin, and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. The presence of all of the team’s top personnel was interesting to see as the three missed Michigan’s pro day to meet with the 41-year-old passer. The top brass in Pittsburgh tends to all be in attendance for big pro days, and the Wolverines are stacked with first round talent like defensive tackles Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant, cornerback Will Johnson, and tight end Colston Loveland.

While it may seem like Rodgers leaving without a deal made the meeting unproductive, it appears the meeting wasn’t intended to be about contract negotiations. According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the Steelers and Rodgers “have had contract parameters in place for weeks.” Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer adds that money discussions are not “expected to get in the way” when it comes to a decision.

The visit was reportedly less about discussions on compensation and more about conversations on fit and Rodgers getting the feel of the Steelers’ leadership and culture. Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the six-hour visit was a positive one, and the two sides will remain in touch, though the decision is ultimately in Rodgers’ hands.

Here are a couple other rumors concerning the teams still looking for quarterback help this offseason:

With Pittsburgh pushing all their chips in on Rodgers, it’s become apparent that Russell Wilson has been deemed a backup option for the Steelers, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Wilson is still getting plenty of interest from the Browns and Giants, who despite signing Jameis Winston yesterday, have not been ruled out from signing another veteran passer and/or drafting a rookie quarterback as they begin to rebuild their quarterbacks room from scratch.
Speaking of pro days, Fowler tells us that the Titans will be sending the calvary to Coral Gables for Miami quarterback Cam Ward‘s pro day this Monday. While there has been a lot of momentum for Ward to go No. 1 overall to Nashville, Fowler says that a determination has not yet been made by the Titans. The team still intends to undergo a very thorough determination process, but so far, through interviews at the NFL scouting combine, Ward has acquitted himself well, showing some mistake recognition and coachability to go along with his natural talent.
An interesting note from Fowler adds that, in a perfect world, Tennessee would love to be able to trade back and still land Ward, but there’s worry that he wouldn’t still be around after moving back, perfectly illustrating how position need and importance can inflate a player’s draft stock. Regardless, the sense around the league is that Ward has far and away separated himself from the rest of the quarterbacks in this year’s class.

Jameis Winston Signing Won’t Preclude Giants From Additional QB Moves

March 22nd, 2025 at 8:49am CST by Ben Levine

The Giants finally added a quarterback yesterday when they agreed to terms with Jameis Winston. While the veteran acquisition would seem to represent a bridge option for the organization, the signing may not preclude the Giants from making additional big-name moves at the position.

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the addition of Winston wouldn’t prevent the Giants from still adding a quarterback like Aaron Rodgers or Russell Wilson. In fact, even if the Giants do add another veteran to their QBs room, the team would still be expected to add a rookie signal caller with the third-overall pick.

This is similar to what we heard last week. As the Rodgers saga continued, there was a report that the Giants may pull the trigger on a free agent acquisition sooner than later. The team reportedly had an eye on Mason Rudolph, but after striking out on that pursuit, they landed a free agent with even more starting experience.

Winston’s two-year, $8MM agreement with the Giants is certainly in line (or even below) the going rate for backup quarterbacks. With 87 games of starting experience (including seven starts with the Browns in 2024), it was initially assumed that Winston would keep the seat warm for the No. 3 pick. Instead, a rookie acquisition could be redshirted for the 2025 campaign, and Winston could serve as a traditional QB2 to another free agent target.

As Rodgers took a long meeting with the Steelers yesterday, it’s seeming increasingly likely that the Giants’ chances are dwindling in that sweepstakes. Still, there remains a connection between New York and Wilson. Fowler says the veteran QB still views the Giants as a “viable option,” and considering opportunities are starting to dry up around the NFL, Wilson may have to ultimately take what he can get.

With Winston joining Tommy DeVito on the roster, there’s now less urgency for the Giants to make a splash at the position, especially if they intend to use the third-overall pick on a quarterback. However, Winston’s signing does provide the organization with a bit more flexibility, and there’s a good chance the front office isn’t finished reshaping their QBs room.

Aaron Rodgers Visits Steelers

March 21st, 2025 at 11:45pm CST by Adam La Rose

11:45pm: Rodgers has slow-rolled his free agency decision on the advice of his agent, David Dunn, per Pro Football Network’s Mike Florio. The Steelers offered him a contract close to the beginning of free agency, but they have yet to improve the terms of the deal to entice him to sign. Rodgers also met with offensive coordinator Arthur Smith during his visit, per the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac, but left the team’s facility without a deal.

Rodgers has been trying to wait Pittsburgh out in pursuit of a better contract, but he has seen his interest from other teams wane. He does not have any other visits scheduled, per The Athletic’s Jeff Howe, which may cause the Steelers to stand firm with their initial offer instead of bidding against themselves.

12:34pm: The Aaron Rodgers watch continues, and Friday has seen what could prove to be a notable development. The league’s top remaining free agent quarterback is currently visiting the Steelers’ facility, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

The Steelers have long been known as one of the top Rodgers suitors, with discussions picking up around the time of Justin Fields working out a deal with the Jets. Retaining Fields was Pittsburgh’s preference, but his departure leaves the team in need of a veteran passer (which may or may not be 2024 starter Russell Wilson). Mason Rudolph is back in the organization, but his signing has not slowed down Rodgers-Steelers connections.

The Vikings represented the top name to watch on this front until recently. Minnesota has not submitted an offer to Rodgers at this point, and one is not expected as things stand. Pittsburgh, on the other hand, is among the suitors which has made an offer. Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports it still stands, adding Rodgers met with the Steelers’ coaches today. A deal could be worked out in short order as a result. General manager Omar Khan also took part in today’s summit, per Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer.

Since Ben Roethlisberger‘s retirement, Pittsburgh has been unable to find a long-term solution under center. Rodgers would not meet that criteria at the age of 41, but the four-time MVP could provide starting-caliber play on a short-term basis for Pittsburgh or any number of teams. Wilson’s time in the organization went well at first, but at the end of the campaign his play (and that of the offense in general) fell short of expectations.

Owner Art Rooney II made it clear after the Steelers’ wild-card loss that keeping Wilson and Fields in place again in 2025 would be unlikely. The latter quickly secured $30MM guaranteed from the Jets, the team which elected to move on from Rodgers under its new regime of Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey. That decision did not come as a surprise, but it has not stopped the longtime Packer from generating a notable market. With preliminary Steelers talks not producing an agreement, the Giants have made an offer of their own (one which is believed to be stronger than Pittsburgh’s).

Wilson is ready to sign a deal for 2025, whether it is with Pittsburgh, New York, Cleveland or another suitor. His future will not be clear until the Rodgers domino falls, however. Joe Flacco is another veteran to watch in the case of the Steelers (and other teams still in need of a passer at this stage of free agency). Pittsburgh could begin the next phase of the QB carousel shortly with a Rodgers arrangement.

Teams Contact Vikings On J.J. McCarthy; Minnesota Standing Down On Aaron Rodgers

March 21st, 2025 at 11:22am CST by Sam Robinson

MARCH 21: The idea of a Rodgers signing received support from “many” within the Vikings’ organization, Russini’s colleague Alec Lewis confirms (subscription required). Uncertainty over McCarthy’s upside for 2025 looms as a reason for pursuing a short-term veteran option, and the Minnesota breakdown of Rodgers’ performance from last year yielded a strong evaluation of his play in the pocket. The door is of course not entirely closed to a Vikings-Rodgers partnership at this point, and it is clear one would be welcomed from a strong contingent in the building.

MARCH 19: Even at 41, Aaron Rodgers had stalled the quarterback market. The Vikings hovered at the forefront of this stoppage, as the connection between Rodgers and Minnesota proved enough to halt delay the future Hall of Famer’s decision and impact other dominoes from falling.

While the Vikings do not appear to be definitively out on giving Rodgers the chance to complete the Brett Favre career arc, it does sound like they are prepared to stand down. The team is staying out of the Rodgers chase for the time being, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets. Although the Vikes are still planning to add a veteran passer, it is unlikely to be Rodgers.

As could be expected, the Vikings have also informed teams J.J. McCarthy is not available via trade. Multiple McCarthy trade calls have commenced this offseason, Pelissero adds. It was rumored late last season, as questionable free agent and draft crops loomed for QB-needy teams, McCarthy would bring trade interest. Seeing as the Vikings centered their 2024 offseason around the No. 10 overall pick and that the team had let Sam Darnold walk in free agency, entertaining trade offers appeared a non-starter.

The Steelers and Giants should be positioned to, even considering Rodgers’ glacial pace this offseason, hear an answer soon. Both teams have made offers, but the Vikings had muddied the market due to presenting intrigue after a 14-3 season with Darnold at the controls. Minnesota’s current stance may not be final, but it will put Rodgers, Pittsburgh and New York to decisions. The Vikings are merely not ready to commit to Rodgers right now, per The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, who indicates the NFC North club “strongly considered” the aging QB. Though, unless Rodgers wants to wait out McCarthy’s offseason work, he will need to make a decision.

Rodgers taking an extended period before choosing would not exactly be out of character, especially at this stage of his career, and CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones adds no indication has emerged this Vikings development will accelerate the Rodgers market. But the Giants and Steelers will soon need answers in order to have some clarity moving forward. The Vikings’ early call here should move the Russell Wilson market along and perhaps give Kirk Cousins a clearer picture about his future. The top option caught in the crosshairs here, Wilson has visited the Browns and Giants and is believed to be ready to join a team soon.

A report from The Exhibit’s Josina Anderson emerged previously indicating some Steelers optimism on Rodgers, who had become a target for the team days before the legal tampering period began. While the Giants were connected to Rodgers first, the Steelers — as their efforts to keep Justin Fields from testing the market failed — soon became a suitor. Nearly nine days into free agency, Anderson adds the Steelers feel like they are “getting closer” on a Rodgers resolution.

The Vikings appear to be aiming lower for a McCarthy bridge, which makes sense given the team’s investment in the former national championship-winning arm. Seeking a player who can start “if needed,” per ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler, the team has not been tied to Wilson, and while a Cousins reunion would be interesting (seeing as the QB’s $28.5MM dead money figure is now off the books), the Falcons passer has a no-trade clause and passed on being a bridge option for his longtime employer last season.

Joe Flacco, Jameis Winston, Drew Lock, Carson Wentz and Minnesota native Trey Lance remain available. The Vikings nearly cut off this extended Rodgers link by re-signing Daniel Jones, but he chose the Colts due to a better chance to be an extended starter.

A Rodgers signing would have all but buried the opportunity for McCarthy to start in Week 1; the Vikings are clearly hopeful the Michigan product will be able to take over immediately. A lower-profile stopgap would bring insurance rather than a true bridge. The Vikings’ current stance will brighten the spotlight on McCarthy’s form to start the team’s offseason program, which does not begin for multiple weeks. In the meantime, the Giants and Steelers will want to know who their Week 1 starter will be.

The Giants are believed to have submitted the best Rodgers offer, though the Steelers have conveyed their interest and present the best chance for the 20-year veteran to hold onto a starting job throughout the season. The returning Mason Rudolph would profile as a clear Rodgers backup, and the Steelers holding the No. 21 overall pick (compared to the Giants’ No. 3 spot), would limit them in the draft.

The wait continues, and it will be interesting to see if Rodgers actually makes a call or forces his lead suitors to blink early by further delaying his decision. Favre memorably did not give the Vikings QB clarity until mid-August 2009, signing with Minnesota late in training camp. The Packers’ decision to go with Rodgers a year earlier did not become final until early August 2008, and that move uprooted previous Jets starter Chad Pennington, thus updating three teams’ (including the Dolphins) QB plans during camp. It would be stunning if the Giants and Steelers were comfortable with any comparable delay. Their futures with Rodgers should be known fairly soon.

Steelers Believe They’re Still In The Running For Aaron Rodgers

March 19th, 2025 at 6:14pm CST by Ben Levine

The Aaron Rodgers saga continues, as we heard this morning that the Vikings were likely exiting the sweepstakes. This news followed a report from last weekend that the free agent quarterback may only be considering two options: the Vikings or retirement. Still, both the Steelers and Giants loomed as suitors, and it sounds like at least one of those teams is still under consideration.

According to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Steelers have not been told that they’re out of the running for Rodgers. Dulac notes that the organization will “continue to wait” on the QB, although there’s “no specific time set for a decision.”

While Rodgers’ prolonged stay in free agency is slightly holding up the QB market, that’s apparently not a concern for the Stelers front office. Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports writes that the organization is “fine waiting” for a decision, and the team is confident that money won’t be an issue if Rodgers ultimately opts for Pittsburgh.

While there might not be any urgency for the Steelers’ decision makers, the team would surely like a resolution sooner than later. Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson are the only QBs on the depth chart, and even if the team does find a way to turn their No. 21 pick into a rookie signal caller, the organization will presumably prefer a more reliable temporary solution at the position.

In New York, the Giants may not be as patient. Schultz says the Giants also still have interest in Rodgers, although the team will likely be pulling the trigger on a backup sooner than later. Russell Wilson is a fallback option for both squads, and the veteran QB seems to be the most impacted by Rodgers’ indecisiveness.

Considering Minnesota’s commitment to J.J. McCarthy and their sudden exit from the Rodgers pursuit, there were some questions regarding the team’s interest in the veteran in the first place. While much of the connection between the two appeared to be one-sided, Alec Lewis of The Athletic says there were “many” inside the Vikings building who supported the possibility. Another source told ESPN’s Kevin Seifert that Rodgers’ chances of joining Minnesota were “non-zero.” That’s not necessarily a ringing endorsement, but it also confirms interest nonetheless.

Aaron Rodgers Mulling Vikings Or Retirement?

March 15th, 2025 at 10:08pm CST by Ely Allen

It seems impossible to avoid the drama that surrounds free agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers on what has become an annual basis. From the trade he forced Green Bay into that sent him to the Jets to his insistence on returning from a season-ending Achilles injury on a truncated schedule with unorthodox recovery methods to impacting reunions with most of his old Packers teammates in New York, Rodgers seems addicted to the spotlight.

That hasn’t changed to this day, as a team of Michael Silver, Dianna Russini, and Alec Lewis — all of The Athletic — reports that Rodgers has multiple teams holding out for his decision on where to play in 2025. One thing is a bit different in this situation, though: the decision appears to be out of Rodgers’ hands, at the moment. Per The Athletic, Rodgers has made it known that he is hoping to sign with the Vikings, but it’s head coach Kevin O’Connell who appears to hold sway over whether or not that will happen.

For a player that didn’t seem to want to live in the shadow of Brett Favre, Rodgers seems fairly eager to continue following in his exact footsteps. Rodgers’ desires are not exactly difficult to track here, though. At 41 years old, the veteran quarterback is hoping to land with a team that can contend for a Super Bowl. His move to New York was an attempt to bring a team in the gutter up to his usual championship-caliber, but that proved more difficult than anticipated.

Now, he’ll seek a contender who sat a game short of earning the NFC’s first-round bye in the playoffs with Sam Darnold at quarterback just last year. In fact, The Athletic reports that Darnold’s new salary in Seattle ($33.5MM per year) is around what Rodgers is looking for in a new contract. That being said, salary is not expected to be a sticking point for Rodgers on a new deal.

The real decision here comes from O’Connell, who has been granted key say in this situation by team owners Zygi Wilf and Mark Wilf and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. They know that, ultimately, the decision will weigh heaviest on O’Connell as head coach and that O’Connell has the most insight into the Vikings’ current situation at quarterback.

That situation has recently seen Minnesota affirming rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy as the heir apparent for the job moving forward, despite McCarthy missing the entirety of the 2024 NFL season following meniscus surgery. The 10th overall pick last year was not seen as a first-round option for much of the 2023 season, but his national championship-winning season with the Wolverines, combined with quite a few desperate teams looking for rookie passers, resulted in McCarthy hearing his name on Day 1.

While it was initially thought that McCarthy would need to sit and learn for a year, a lack of serious candidates for competition led McCarthy into a battle with Darnold to replace Kirk Cousins as the starter in Minnesota, a battle that Darnold was gifted following McCarthy’s surgery. Now, with Darnold having moved on and McCarthy having sat for the year, it’s presumed that McCarthy should now be ready to take hold of the starting role.

Enter: Rodgers. Obviously, Rodgers has the ability as an experienced veteran to come in and take hold of the starting job. O’Connell isn’t just looking for a starter, though. After a 14-3 season, O’Connell is looking to build off that momentum and take the team to a Super Bowl, even if it doesn’t happen this season.

This forces O’Connell to reconcile with what bringing Rodgers in would mean. First, the upside that Rodgers provides could help for a win-now mentality to take a talented Vikings team to a Super Bowl this season. But, given what we saw from Rodgers last season in New York, Minnesota may not get that upside. They could end up with what we’ve seen in Rodgers last two full seasons: a combined 13-21 record, sub-4,000 yards passing, and just over 25 touchdowns combined with double-digit interceptions, something we hadn’t seen from Rodgers since 2010.

O’Connell also has to reconcile with the social factor Rodgers brings to the team. We saw several instances of dissonance between Rodgers and leadership over his last years in Green Bay and his time with the Jets. Does O’Connell want to risk bringing in what some have deemed to be a toxic personality, especially if there’s no guarantee he returns to the excellence we saw just four years ago?

This could also impact McCarthy’s confidence, leading the young passer to feel as if the team doesn’t believe he’s ready for the job and further stunting his early growth. The alternative would see O’Connell lock in on McCarthy as the future of the position and start to get him as much time in that role as possible. Even if it doesn’t bring them the success of a Super Bowl in 2025, getting McCarthy reps as the leader of the offense would be crucial in the 22-year-old’s development.

It’s an unenviable position for O’Connell who has to weigh several factors in making a decision on whether to take the next uncertain steps with an inexperienced, unproven rookie or an accomplished veteran who could certainly be on the downslide that ends his career.

Regardless of what O’Connell decides, the Giants and Steelers are holding in position, waiting to make their own decisions as a result. Unfortunately for them, it sounds as if Rodgers may not be guaranteed to fall to them even if O’Connell decides not to sign him. According to The Athletic staff, it remains an option that, should the Vikings turn him down, Rodgers may spurn both Pittsburgh and New York in favor of retirement. There is certainly a slew of possibilities that will branch out from O’Connell’s upcoming decision.

Vikings Considering Aaron Rodgers Push; Giants Have Submitted Best Offer?

March 14th, 2025 at 11:44pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Aaron Rodgers market has persisted long enough that Russell Wilson is taking visits. Appearing to sit behind his former 2014 NFC championship game opponent the aging QB pecking order, Wilson has attempted to shake things up with Browns and Giants meetings. Wilson is meeting with Big Blue today.

But the Giants have done plenty of work on Rodgers. Linked to the 41-year-old cap casualty for several days, the Giants may also be leading the way in terms of offers. Although the Steelers have also made Rodgers an offer, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini indicated during her Scoop City podcast (h/t Steelers Depot) that New York is believed to have submitted a better offer.

Considering the earnings Rodgers has put together, the Giants offering a bit more probably would not move the needle enough. If the former Packers and Jets starter were to join the Giants, fit would most likely be the top box to check. Money is not believed to be the driver of Rodgers’ delay with the Steelers, so it would stand to reason no Giants offer would be pushing him in either direction. That said, a sizable gap forming between the two teams’ proposals could serve as a tiebreaker of sorts.

The Jets discussed Rodgers with “five or six” teams since the Combine, The Exhibit’s Josina Anderson tweets, but they had previously determined they were moving on. It would appear that Gang Green made a last-ditch attempt to trade Rodgers, but nothing transpired on that front. Rodgers became a post-June 1 release Wednesday, saddling the Jets with $49MM in dead money through 2026. The Jets’ new regime making the call to move on from an all-time QB talent only to see three more teams swoop in is rather interesting, and the wild-card suitor here may be helping drive the delay.

Rodgers was viewed as being intrigued by a Vikings partnership — in what would be an eerily similar move to some late-2000s activity involving the Packers’ previous starting quarterback — but SI.com’s Albert Breer adds that, as of Thursday night, the Vikes were merely considering diving into the Rodgers market. Going a bit further here, Russini notes that the Vikings are “seriously” considering Rodgers, who is giving the NFC North team time to make its decision. That extra piece of information from Russini may do the best to explain this delay; the Vikings appear to be holding up the Steelers and Giants’ QB plans.

In addition to completing the Brett Favre arc, a Rodgers-to-Minnesota storyline would leave the Steelers and Giants scrambling at QB. While the Giants hold the No. 3 overall pick — and likely would still be connected to using it to acquire a QB even if Rodgers signs — the Steelers reside at No. 21. Rodgers choosing Pittsburgh would stand to give him the best chance of finishing the 2025 season as a starter, but he has clearly shown respect for what the Vikings have put together under Kevin O’Connell.

Minnesota has now been connected to Rodgers for nearly a week, with the Steelers being in play a bit longer. Both Sam Darnold and Vikes contingency plan Daniel Jones committed elsewhere. Jones was down to a Minnesota-or-Indianapolis choice; had the late-season Vikings addition chosen to stay in the Twin Cities, we might have a Rodgers answer by now. Jones, however, signed with the Colts to push Anthony Richardson. It will be interesting to see if either the Giants or Steelers blink and go with Wilson, whose free agency is in an interesting position at this point.

While it remains interesting Rodgers has this much sway after a wildly underwhelming Jets tenure, the glaring needs the Giants and Steelers bring partially explains it. One member of this trio will be left without Rodgers or Wilson, providing serious complications about 2025 viability. The Falcons have not let Kirk Cousins out of his contract (yet), and the Browns’ interest in Wilson provides another wrinkle here.

The Vikings are still preparing to give the keys to J.J. McCarthy, but a true entrance into the Rodgers derby would seemingly throw a wrench into the 2024 draftee’s timetable. Minnesota’s confidence in McCarthy would also stand to give Rodgers pause, but for now, he appears genuinely intrigued about see what the team’s sales pitch would be.

Aaron Rodgers Still Considering Vikings; Latest On Steelers’ Effort

March 12th, 2025 at 11:59pm CST by Sam Robinson

As the Giants and Steelers have hovered as the leaders in this unusual Aaron Rodgers sweepstakes for multiple days, the future Hall of Fame quarterback is still deliberating. Rodgers is well aware the Giants and Steelers are interested, but the third team linked to him over the weekend is still believed to be in the mix.

Rodgers remains intrigued by playing for the Vikings, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini and Michael Silver note. Minnesota continues to evaluate its QB options, and we heard over the weekend Rodgers is one of them. While completing the Full Favre would be make for an eerie parallel for his one-time Packers successor, Minnesota has some selling points the other two suitors do not.

Kevin O’Connell is the reigning NFL Coach of the Year, riding to that honor mostly as Sam Darnold went from bottom-tier starter and borderline draft bust to an original-ballot Pro Bowler who threw 35 touchdown passes in guiding the Vikings to a stunning 14-3 record. Darnold targeted All-Pro wide receiver Justin Jefferson, former first-rounder Jordan Addison and Pro Bowl tight end T.J. Hockenson. Longtime Rodgers teammate Aaron Jones also did heavy lifting for the 2024 Vikings, and he is back on a two-year, $20MM deal.

Minnesota also finished with a top-five defense last season, and during a week in which the team re-signed Byron Murphy and retained Harrison Smith, the Vikes added veteran D-linemen Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave. Brett Favre joined a Vikings team that had lost a wild-card game in 2008, albeit with a much worse record than last year’s Minnesota edition; Rodgers may be interested in helping a team to a higher level. Though, the four-time MVP failing to do so in New York — ahead of a Wednesday release — offers a warning sign for the suitors.

Favre took the Vikings to the 2009 NFC championship game, delivering an MVP-caliber season at 40. That ended badly, with a reckless interception stalling a potential game-winning Vikings drive in the NFC championship game. But Favre delivered a strong season at 40, beating Rodgers’ Packers twice. Unretirement No. 3 in 2010 did not go as well, as Favre’s ironman streak ended during a 6-10 Vikes season.

Rodgers is rumored to be interested in playing two more years, which is where a Minnesota decision would become complicated. Unlike in 2009 when they recruited Favre, the Vikings have a young quarterback (J.J. McCarthy) they are planning to build around. The 2009 Vikes had seen three Tarvaris Jackson seasons, as both a starter and backup, by that point. This Vikings regime is high on McCarthy, having centered its 2024 offseason around him before a meniscus tear entrenched Darnold at QB1. Rodgers may not be too keen on serving as a bridge who faces the risk of being benched during his first season with the team.

Chances are, he would not face that reality in Pittsburgh. The Steelers are not in position to grab a starter-level QB in the draft, though one of the QBs off the Cam Ward/Shedeur Sanders tier may rise up draft boards during the pre-draft process. But Rodgers could have a path, even as he will turn 42 in December, to starting throughout for a Steelers team that has a strong defensive nucleus — and one that just acquired D.K. Metcalf to play alongside George Pickens.

The Steelers have made their offer, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac reports, adding that money is not believed to be driving this Rodgers delay. The decorated quarterback has not publicly confirmed he even intends to play in 2025, though that has been the expectation for a bit. Although the Steelers are unlikely to essentially hand the keys to Rodgers in the way the Jets did, their hesitation on Russell Wilson does raise the stakes for this particular free agency pursuit.

Wilson looms as a Steelers backup option, but time may be ticking there, too. Wilson is visiting the Browns on Thursday and Giants on Friday. While Wilson has settled in behind Rodgers within the QB free agent hierarchy — to the point the Giants would be unlikely to sign him before they know they are out of the Rodgers derby — he remains a capable starting quarterback who could be a bridge option to a rookie.

The Vikings being in the Rodgers mix as well stands to give the 20-year veteran a good chance to remain a starter in 2025. While Rodgers is well off the 2012 Peyton Manning level in terms of free agency prize, as the all-time great’s free agency decision stalled the NFL that offseason, the Rodgers free agency is slowing the market for at least one quarterback and probably a couple more.

The two teams in this derby who do not land Rodgers figure to place an immediate call to Wilson’s camp. Options tail off soon after. Gardner Minshew is available, and Joe Flacco is interested in playing an age-40 season. The line moves to Jameis Winston, Carson Wentz and Mason Rudolph after. The Falcons continue to hold Kirk Cousins hostage, intent on keeping him for a potential trade market.

Russell Wilson Still In Play As Fallback Steelers Option; Aaron Rodgers Down To Two Teams?

March 11th, 2025 at 11:12pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Steelers’ preference entering the negotiating period was to keep Justin Fields in place instead of Russell Wilson. That plan is no longer an option since the former agreed to a two-year Jets deal on Monday.

Wilson is still on the market, and he would obviously be a familiar option after spending the 2024 season as Pittsburgh’s starter (when healthy). The Steelers have become one of the suitors for Aaron Rodgers, however, and a deal could be in place soon. As talks on the Rodgers front continue, Wilson is not out of Pittsburgh’s plans yet.

Should the Rodgers negotiations break down, Wilson resides as a fallback option at this point, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. That might be a humbling position for a playoff team’s primary starter to reside, but Wilson looks to have other options. The Giants and Titans are believed to be interested, though New York is also in on Rodgers, who cannot officially be released until Wednesday afternoon. The Browns are also believed to still be eyeing a veteran, despite their Kenny Pickett acquisition.

A report Monday night indicated a Rodgers-Steelers deal could go down today, and SI.com’s Albert Breer said during a Rich Eisen Show segment the Steelers were fairly confident as of Monday that Rodgers would select them. The Giants remain in the mix, and Breer expects Rodgers to end up in Pittsburgh or to switch locker rooms at MetLife Stadium. The Giants have made their pitch and are indeed waiting on Rodgers’ decision, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport notes.

Although a weekend report connected the Vikings to Rodgers — in what would be an eerie parallel to the Brett Favre career path — Breer indicates he would be surprised if the future Hall of Famer ends up in Minnesota. That said, Fox Sports’ Ralph Vacchiano does not view the Vikings as out of this mix yet. This situation differs from last year’s Wilson decision and what could happen if the Falcons cut Kirk Cousins, as Rodgers could see a notable salary in 2025. The Broncos were already paying Wilson’s salary, while Cousins’ 2025 money is guaranteed as well.

The Steelers and Vikings are coming off playoff seasons and would be better positioned to complement Rodgers this year; that said, the Giants have been busy in free agency, most notably re-signing Darius Slayton and adding Jevon Holland and Paulson Adebo. While Minnesota has J.J. McCarthy and New York holds the No. 3 overall pick, Pittsburgh may be committed to a full season of Rodgers if he is to sign. The Steelers not holding a pick in the top 20 would stand to give them an advantage for Rodgers, who would not need to look over his shoulder at a prospect — in all likelihood — were he to choose Pittsburgh.

As for Wilson, waiting on Rodgers’ talks with the Steelers may not sit too well. The younger of the two aging options finished two spots higher in QBR (23rd to 25th) last season and piloted the team to the playoffs. The Steelers’ late-season collapse, however, has not reflected well on Wilson, who appears behind Rodgers with the Giants as well.

Decisions should come soon, but Rodgers having this much say in how the QB market plays, at 41 and coming off an underwhelming Jets tenure, is interesting. But teams are still intrigued by the all-time QB talent. He has a clear route to play a 21st season and remain a starter.

Adam La Rose contributed to this post

Steelers Moving Close To Deal With Aaron Rodgers?

March 10th, 2025 at 11:41pm CST by Sam Robinson

PFR’s poll pointing to a potential Aaron Rodgers-Steelers fit did not draw a high vote count back in December, but it is starting to look like this could happen. A Rodgers deal with Pittsburgh may be close.

The Steelers could have a deal in place with Rodgers as soon as Tuesday, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio reports. The future first-ballot Hall of Fame became connected to the Steelers recently, but Florio adds the parties have been in talks for several days — when it became clear Justin Fields would explore free agency.

Pittsburgh still may need to fend off the Giants, who were rumored to prefer Rodgers to Russell Wilson. Despite the Steelers using Wilson as their primary starter last season, it appears they do as well. Although Rodgers will turn 42 before 2025 ends, he is still drawing interest from QB-needy teams.

Rodgers’ desire, per Florio, to play two more seasons factors into his decision-making here. Whereas the Giants are likely to add a first-round quarterback — they are at least in position to do so and have been linked to trading up to No. 1 overall — the Steelers hover outside the top 20 in the draft and are not in a position to nab one of this class’ top two options. As such, the Steelers would be in better position to hold off on a younger passer if they land Rodgers, who has not confirmed he is playing in 2025.

It has been believed Rodgers will come back for a 21st season, and despite an underwhelming Jets tenure, the all-time QB talent has generated a bit of a bidding war — as far as fit goes, at least. The Giants may still be involved here, Florio adds, but the Steelers would stand to give Rodgers a better chance to reach the playoffs in 2025. Baggage aside, Rodgers would provide the Steelers with an upgrade on what they have deployed at QB in recent years — particularly from a passing standpoint. As far as the rest of the Rodgers experience goes, that would be borderline must-see TV when paired with Mike Tomlin.

Despite Rodgers’ antics over the past few years, the Steelers taking this chance does not seem too farfetched based purely on football. Although the four-time MVP has not closely resembled that version in recent years, he finished with 28 touchdown passes compared to 11 interceptions last season. QBR still ranked Rodgers 25th — three spots behind Wilson — last season, when he tied a career-low with 6.7 yards per attempt. After Kenny Pickett and the Wilson-Fields combination did not do enough to complement Pittsburgh’s defense, the team may be close to a gamble — fit-wise — as the T.J. Watt–Cameron Heyward–Minkah Fitzpatrick trio’s primes wane.

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