With the start of NFL OTAs rapidly approaching, Aaron Rodgers still remains unsigned. The four-time MVP quarterback has fielded interest from multiple teams this offseason, but with time ticking, it appears the Pittsburgh Steelers are the last legitimate contender left standing in the Rodgers sweepstakes.
Amid growing speculation around his next move, former NFL quarterback Chris Simms offered an intriguing theory: Rodgers may be purposely taking his time to avoid becoming the centerpiece of a media frenzy, especially if he were to join a storied franchise like Pittsburgh.
“Maybe he didn’t want that crap,” Simms said on NBC Sports. “Maybe he’s like, ‘I don’t want to be on the Chiefs’ schedule and be a traveling road show.'”
Rodgers has long been known to take unconventional approaches during the offseason, and this delay might be more calculated than fans assume.
Rodgers’ hesitation may be strategic, not indecisive
Simms’ comments came in response to speculation that Rodgers could have landed Pittsburgh several more primetime games in 2025, including a possible marquee matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs.
The NFL schedule often centers on star players, and Rodgers signing early could have positioned the Steelers for increased national exposure – something Simms suggests the veteran quarterback may not have been keen on.
The Steelers already face one of the toughest slates this season – ranked seventh-hardest in the NFL based on their opponents’ 2024 records. Despite that, Pittsburgh avoided a scheduled clash with Mahomes, which might suit Rodgers if he’s looking for a more low-profile return to football following his season-ending Achilles injury last year.
Still, the spotlight may find him anyway. Should Rodgers ultimately sign with Pittsburgh, his first regular-season game in black and gold would be a headline in itself – a Week 1 road trip to face the New York Jets, the team he barely played for after suffering his injury on the opening drive in 2023.
To make things more intriguing, the Jets now feature Justin Fields as their starting quarterback – the same player who held the reins in Pittsburgh last season.
Steelers’ QB room remains unsettled
At the moment, Pittsburgh’s quarterback situation is anything but solidified. The team added Skylar Thompson and re-signed Mason Rudolph in free agency, and selected Will Howard in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. None of them present a clear long-term solution.
This leaves Rodgers as a tempting option if he’s willing to step in. The Steelers would offer him a chance to immediately start, lead a playoff-caliber team, and perhaps write a compelling late-career chapter – all while playing in a system that wouldn’t require the media overexposure he may be trying to avoid.
However, there’s one major caveat: as Mike Florio of NBC Sports has pointed out, Rodgers‘ unorthodox offseason behavior – from his sabbaticals to media silence – has occasionally put teams in awkward positions. If Pittsburgh is serious about him, they’ll need to find common ground quickly, as OTA reps begin to matter.
For now, it remains unclear whether Rodgers will make Pittsburgh his next stop. But based on Simms’ analysis, his delay isn’t just about indecision – it might be a masterclass in narrative control.
Read the full article here
