The Pittsburgh Steelers have set their sights on two Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks for the 2025 season. On the surface, this may seem like a promising move, but there’s a catch: both potential options are nearing the twilight of their careers.
Entering today, the Steelers were considered the significant favorites to land Aaron Rodgers. While the New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings are also alive in the hunt, signs have begun to point firmly to Pittsburgh.
However, talks with Rodgers have reportedly not been smooth sailing.
According to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: “It’s possible Russell Wilson could return to the Steelers if ongoing discussions with Aaron Rodgers fail to result in a financial agreement, per multiple sources.”
At first glance, this may seem like an obvious fallback plan: if Rodgers is unable to reach a favorable deal, the Steelers might turn to Wilson, who is already familiar with the team from last season.
However, the key takeaway from Dulac’s report is that financial terms are the primary sticking point in negotiations between the Steelers and Rodgers.
The Steelers may be hoping to get a favorable contract from Rodgers, especially since there is no monstrous bidding war for his services this time around.
The race for Rodgers seems to be narrowing down to just the Steelers and the New York Giants, though there is a lingering suspicion that the Minnesota Vikings could be in the mix as well.
Rodgers has a clear path to his best shot at another playoff berth in Pittsburgh, especially given that he has not made a postseason appearance since 2021.
Adding to that, his decision to forgo $35 million in his first year with the New York Jets might give the Steelers some leverage in negotiations, possibly allowing them to push for a more favorable deal.
But will the Steelers’ backup plan – bringing back Russell Wilson – force Rodgers to blink??
Most observers, including the Steelers, watched Wilson’s disappointing 2024 season, and it’s hard to imagine things improving with Wilson another year older.
That leaves the Steelers with few alternatives, especially with Justin Fields now off to the New York Jets (ironically enough).
A potential Rodgers-Steelers partnership seems like a logical fit, but it’s clear that money is the obstacle standing in the way.
Rodgers likely understands that the $33 million per year they’re paying wide receiver D.K. Metcalf would go to waste if Pittsburgh can’t find a quarterback capable of consistently getting him the ball.
Speaking of Metcalf, It should be noted that Steelers legend Ben Roethlisberger favors his old team signing Wilson over Rodgers in large part because of Russ’ “moon balls.”
As the negotiations unfold, the Steelers are left navigating a tricky financial situation, with the looming possibility of having to settle for Wilson if they can’t come to terms with Rodgers.
As the afternoon unfolded, many fans felt that Rodgers-to-Pittsburgh was close to a foregone conclusion. While it still may be, these latest developments prove there’s still plenty of work to be done.
How do YOU think this whole thing ends???
