Don’t depend Aaron Rodgers out. Days in the past, it was reported that the 4X MVP signed a one-year cope with the Pittsburgh Steelers after beforehand stating the 2025 season would possible be his final. After making an look on the Steelers’ apply subject on Monday, Might 18, a number of of his teammates spoke about his return, saying they have been saved at nighttime about his offseason strikes.
In keeping with a number of experiences, together with ESPN and Steelers PR, Rodgers reached a one-year cope with the crew value as much as $25 million simply days in the past.
The signing comes after the Pittsburgh-based crew positioned a UFA tender on the athlete, giving the group the possibility to obtain a compensatory draft choose if he signed elsewhere.
At apply, Steelers receiver Michael Pittman Jr. opened up about Rodgers’ return, saying, “He by no means advised me something. I discovered from Twitter earlier than he advised me.”
Pittman Jr., a USC alum, stated he was hopeful the Tremendous Bowl champion would return earlier than saying his comeback on his personal phrases. “Aaron goes to do what Aaron desires to do, proper?”
Different Steelers Gamers React To Aaron Rodgers Signing On The Dotted Line For One other Yr In The League
Along with Pittman Jr., Steelers offensive lineman Troy Fautanu stated he, too, discovered in regards to the athlete’s return through social media.
“I opened the app and noticed Pat McAfee put up it, and I stated, ‘Right here we go,’” he stated, revealing that many of the crew discovered of the information across the similar time.
A Steelers defensive participant shared an analogous sentiment, saying the celebrity athlete has a “mysterious” vibe.
“Shoot, that’s simply who he’s,” Alex Highsmith stated. “He’s mysterious, however he’s one heck of a teammate. It’s simply who he’s. He is a superb dude.”
Aaron Rodgers Teased 2025 Would Be His Final Season
In keeping with Steelers PR, Rodgers began in 16 of 17 video games in 2025, lacking one as a result of harm. The 21-year veteran accomplished 327 of 498 passes for 3,322 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions.
Over his decades-long profession, Rodgers has appeared in over 260 video games, beginning in 257 of them. He’s accomplished 5,696 of 8,743 passes for 66,274 yards and 527 touchdowns.
In June 2025, Rodgers spoke with Pat McAfee earlier than the beginning of the season, saying he believed it was his final.
“That’s why we simply did a one-year deal. Steelers didn’t have to put any further years on that or something, so this was actually about ending with a variety of love and enjoyable and peace for the profession that I’ve had,” he stated.
He went on to say that he’s loved his “20 fricking years” within the league, including that ending his profession with the Steelers was the very best place for him.
Steelers Dealt With Change After The 2025 Season
Another excuse Rodgers’ return to the Steelers may’ve stunned his teammates was due to his emotional response to former head coach Mike Tomlin stepping down.
In keeping with a earlier report from The Blast, sources stated that Tomlin’s announcement to the crew “felt like a funeral,” and that Rodgers had an emotional response, saying “no” repeatedly.
Previously, Rodgers praised Tomlin as a coach and stated his place with the group performed a job in his signing with the crew.
“Mike T. has had extra success than rattling close to anyone within the league for the final 19, 20 years,” Rodgers stated. “And greater than that, although, when you could have the correct man and the tradition is true, you don’t take into consideration making a change, however there’s a variety of stress that comes from the skin and clearly that sways choices once in a while. But it surely’s not how I’d do issues and never how the league was.”
Rodgers Broke His Silence On Teammates’ Combat With Fan
Earlier than that, Rodgers broke his silence on his teammate, DK Metcalf, being suspended for 2 video games after showing to strike a heckling fan.
Whereas it’s unclear what the fan stated, quite a few experiences claimed that the person, recognized as Ryan Kennedy, repeatedly known as Metcalf by his authorities identify.
“I feel there’s a mindset that you simply pay for a ticket, you say regardless of the heck you need. I feel there must be some code of conduct,” Rodgers stated. “Clearly, [what Kennedy did] was intentional, and I feel there was some celebration afterwards on his half.”
Whereas Rodgers condemned Metcalf’s alleged actions, the quarterback additionally stated that his teammate had his full “assist.”
“The reality is that that might by no means occur head to head. You already know, even among the folks that hate me probably the most within the cities that I’ve performed towards over time, particularly within the NFC North, it’s at all times fairly cordial if you see a few of these folks out and about,” he stated.
