For the first time, Pittsburgh Steelers owner Art Rooney II expressed a little fatigue with the Aaron Rodgers situation.
Last year’s starting quarterback still hasn’t signed a contract for 2026 as he decides whether to play in Pittsburgh for a second year, retire or try to latch on elsewhere. Last month, Rooney said he expected an answer from Rodgers by the NFL Draft.
With the event starting Thursday in Pittsburgh, an announcement from Rodgers appears unlikely.
Appearing on WDVE on Tuesday, Rooney was asked by “DVE Morning Show” host Randy Baumann where the Steelers are in terms of their discussions with Rodgers.
“Well, I wish I could tell you we’re at the end of the discussion, but we’re still talking to Aaron,” Rooney replied with a laugh. “He is still deciding what he wants to do. I think we’re close. He’s kind of told us his time frame — what he’s going to be up to over the next couple of weeks. So, I think we’ll have an answer soon. Let’s put it that way.”
Rooney didn’t specify what Rodgers will be up to, nor did he outline the time frame. However, he was asked by the show’s Mike Prisuta, “if he would be way off or warm” if he guessed that the answer would come before the start of OTAs on May 18.
“Warm,” Rooney answered with another chuckle. “You’d be warm.”
Coach Mike McCarthy also addressed the Rodgers situation Tuesday.
“Nothing has changed,” he said. “I’m going to answer the question the same way I always have. I think Aaron is probably more in tune than we would realize, but I have confidence in where he would be the day he would arrive … if that’s his decision.”
Rooney discussed a few other items of interest, including the prospect of hosting a Super Bowl in Pittsburgh if things go well this week with the draft in town.
“It’s definitely a long shot, and there are a lot of other cities like us that would love to do that,” Rooney said. “So maybe it’s down the road a little ways, but, yeah, I wouldn’t take anything off the table. Let’s put it that way.”
Of course, the NFL may not be interested in a cold-weather venue hosting another Super Bowl as New Jersey did in 2014. So would Pittsburgh need a dome? There has been some speculation about that, given plans to install a roof on Cleveland’s new stadium in 2029.
“Not in my lifetime,” Rooney said of the idea of a domed stadium for the Steelers. “Football is an outdoor sport as far as I’m concerned. I think most Pittsburghers would agree. Nothing better than going out and seeing the game with the snow flying. It’s a lot of fun on those kinds of days.”
The Steelers’ home field, Acrisure Stadium, opened in 2001 as Heinz Field. The lease runs through 2030.