About 20 minutes into his winding 75-minute conversation on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Wednesday, Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers gave us the money quote about his future with the franchise.
“I want to say that anybody on here who was expecting me to make some big decision, just turn it off now. Just leave,” Rodgers declared.
I stuck with the rest of the interview anyway, but I wish I had followed those instructions.
Quite frankly, the Steelers should take that advice, too.
Just walk away.
By the start of free agency next week, if Rodgers doesn’t have his mind made up about whether or not he wants to keep playing football — or if he specifically wants to do so in Pittsburgh — it’s the Steelers who should log off the feed.
Let Rodgers make up his own mind at his own pace and operate accordingly. Look at Malik Willis. Consider Kyler Murray. Evaluate Ty Simpson and Drew Allar in the draft. Get Will Howard and/or Mason Rudolph ready to start. Talk Ben Roethlisberger out of retirement. Bring back Kordell Stewart or Tommy Maddox.
At this point, I don’t care which of those paths they pick. Just don’t pick the path where they have to follow Rodgers as he meanders through his own decision-making process.
If this offseason winds up like last year, and the Steelers and Rodgers both wind up staring at each other after last call and the music stops, then go ahead and hook up with one another again if that really is the best option.
Personally, I can’t possibly see how that could be the case. I think that’s signing up for nothing better than 10-8 and another first-round playoff loss — at best. But the Steelers have proven for almost a decade now, such a result is suitable to them.
So if 2026 winds up replicating 2025 at quarterback in Pittsburgh because there’s no better option, so be it. But, in the meantime, while Rodgers is making up his mind, the Steelers should try for something better — or at least different.
Last year was one thing. They didn’t have a quarterback. Rodgers wasn’t their guy yet. He was just an ex-New York Jet.
This isn’t the same thing. Rodgers can’t expect his current team to wait for him to make up his mind throughout free agency and the draft this spring before they figure out what to do at the sport’s most important position.
“There hasn’t been a deadline set on me. There hasn’t been any contract floated in front of me for me to, like, ‘Well, we’re giving you until, you know, March 8 to make a decision on this.’ There’s been nothing (in) that respect.”
Why?
Why hasn’t there been a contract offer? Is it because general manager Omar Khan doesn’t want to pledge $15-$20 million to a guy who isn’t sure if he wants to report until June again, or may not even want to play at all?
Why hasn’t there been a deadline? Is it because Khan and new coach Mike McCarthy know that if they give Rodgers a deadline it’ll tick him off and he’ll retire or go somewhere else?
So what. Fine.
What’s that going to cost them? Another 24-point, first-round loss at home in the playoffs? Big deal.
During the interview, Rodgers waxed poetic about McCarthy and all the familiar faces on the new Pittsburgh coaching staff from their mutual days together in Green Bay. Rodgers also gushed about his one year playing in Pittsburgh.
Well, if he liked it that much, then help the team lay out a road map for how they want to build the 2026 roster instead of turning yourself into a mystery chess piece.
Rodgers doesn’t owe the Steelers much. But I do think, for franchise-planning purposes under a brand-new coaching regime, he at least owes them a straight answer before free agency begins next week.
If Rodgers doesn’t feel he owes them that, then the Steelers certainly don’t owe him the patience of waiting as he tries to make up his mind.