Aaron Rodgers reportedly visited the Pittsburgh Steelers’ training facility on Friday, but it was not an indication that a contract is about to be signed.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac first reported that Rodgers was at the Steelers’ home base, setting off the inkling that a deal could soon be done with the team in need of a starting quarterback.
Any hope that the Rodgers free-agent drama was coming to an end was doused with a bit of cold water by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero and ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who both reported the 41-year-old was meeting with Steelers coaches and an agreement is not imminent.
Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reported that Rodgers met with head coach Mike Tomlin, offensive coordinator Arthur Smith and general manager Omar Khan. Per Breer, the sides will stay in touch, and there was “no expectation” a deal would be completed Friday. The visit lasted about six hours, per Schefter.
Rodgers’ landing spots are dwindling with Wednesday’s news that the Minnesota Vikings are all-in on J.J. McCarthy for next season. That would leave the Steelers, Cleveland Browns, New York Giants and Tennessee Titans as possible destinations with those teams looking for help at quarterback.
The Giants on Friday evening signed Jameis Winston to a two-year deal, but NFL Network’s Mike Garafalo reported that the move doesn’t mean New York is ending its pursuit of Rodgers and other QB options.
The Steelers signed a quarterback this offseason, Mason Rudolph, but are looking to fill the starter’s role. Justin Fields, who spent last season in Pittsburgh, has moved on to the New York Jets. Russell Wilson remains available and the Steelers remain interested, but he’s also met with the Browns and Giants as he looks for his 2025 place of employment.
An offer has reportedly been made to Rodgers by the Steelers, it’s just that the veteran quarterback is taking his time to make a decision.
Earlier this week, Steelers defensive tackle Cam Heyward delivered on his podcast a simple message to Rodgers and other free agents: “Either you want to be a Pittsburgh Steeler or you don’t.” Heyward appeared on “The Rich Eisen Show” on Friday and clarified that he’s not against Rodgers joining the Steelers.
“Everybody said I called him out, I didn’t call him out,” Hayward told Eisen. “I just said I was not going to go on a darkness retreat to recruit him. If he wants to be a Steeler, he can be a Steeler. That’s the pitch.
“Everybody thought, oh, Cam’s really going at him. Some fans were like, ‘Keep doing that.’ Other fans were like, ‘Oh man, you’re going to scare him off.’
“I’m not scaring anybody off. I just want to win games and play good football.”
As he prepares for his 15th season, Heyward knows he doesn’t have long to try to win a Super Bowl.
“We’re in a state of urgency,” Heyward told Eisen. “We have a lot of guys in the latter stages of their career and we all want to win.”
