Why Aaron Rodgers' Steelers trip may be more important than it looks

Arizona drafted Carson Beck in April and currently has Jacoby Brissett holding out of voluntary workouts, but none of that appears to change Rodgers’ thinking.

The visit now feels like much more than a simple check-in. It appears to be the final step before Rodgers signs a new deal with Pittsburgh.

Aaron Rodgers visit to Steelers carries more weight post-draft

The trip also carries more weight because of the connection between Rodgers and head coach Mike McCarthy. McCarthy coached Rodgers with the Green Bay Packers from 2006 to 2018, and the partnership produced a Super Bowl title in 2010.

Rodgers finished the 2025 season with a 94.8 passer rating, 3,322 yards, and a 24:7 touchdown-to-interception ratio across 16 games for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He still showed flashes of vintage play, even though the season ended with a disappointing 30-6 Wild Card loss to the Houston Texans.

At 42, Rodgers’ mobility has declined. He took 29 sacks in 2025 and posted a shorter average depth of target of 6.4 yards. There is also ongoing organizational friction regarding his silence on retirement during offseasons.

Still, he remains a low-turnover veteran with elite processing, ranking 16th among quarterbacks in 2025 and giving Pittsburgh a stable floor that most bridge quarterbacks cannot provide.

If the deal somehow falls through, Pittsburgh still holds leverage. The Steelers placed a rarely used UFA tender on Rodgers. If he does not sign elsewhere by July 22, Pittsburgh owns his exclusive negotiating rights.

Analysts believe the team would then pivot to Will Howard or Drew Allar instead of making a major veteran trade.

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