One of the NFL’s all-time quarterbacks is joining one of its most historic franchises.
The Steelers are finally bringing former MVP Aaron Rodgers aboard as their next QB1, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. With years of consistent success in the regular season under Mike Tomlin but few playoff wins to show for it, Pittsburgh will be hopeful that even in his later years, Rodgers can lift its ceiling to make a run at the 2025 AFC North crown.
The Rodgers-to-Pittsburgh signing instantly becomes one of the biggest moves of the NFL offseason. But why did the Steelers pursue the aging quarterback, whose best years are likely behind him?
Here’s what to know about Pittsburgh’s decision to sign Rodgers to the third NFL franchise of his storied career.
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Aaron Rodgers contract details
Rodgers is signing a one-year deal with the Steelers. The exact amount is currently unknown, but NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport expects that the base salary will be $10 million.
From @GMFB: More on the #Steelers signing QB Aaron Rodgers, who said on @PatMcAfeeShow that he would play for $10M and that does sound like the kind of low number the contract will be. pic.twitter.com/fCOZNizJZ2
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 6, 2025
Earlier this offseason, the Jets announced they would be cutting Rodgers as they looked to take their franchise in a new direction following a disappointing 5-12 season. He became a free agent, and while retirement was a topic that followed Rodgers, he chose to pursue at least one more year in the NFL before landing with the Steelers.
Why did the Steelers sign Aaron Rodgers?
A Steelers-Rodgers pairing seems like the kind of move NFL fans would talk about in hypotheticals back in his prime years. But at this stage of his career, and at this point of the NFL’s 2025 quarterback carousel, this is undoubtedly a fit for both sides.
For Pittsburgh, it went into the 2024 season employing Russell Wilson and Justin Fields at quarterback. Fields started the first six games of the season, leading the team to a 4-2 record, but once Wilson was healthy, he took over. The Steelers had another good year, finishing 10-7 and making a wild-card appearance, but as has been the case throughout the last decade, they struggled to capitalize in the postseason after making the bracket.
Wilson and Fields both hit free agency this offseason, meaning Pittsburgh needed to land a quarterback one way or another. Drafting a young passer could have been, or may still be, an option, but with a veteran head coach and roster, including the newly acquired DK Metcalf at wide receiver, this is a franchise that’s currently a better fit for an experienced, older quarterback.
Coming into the offseason, the Steelers were reportedly interested in re-signing Fields or Wilson, but more rumors connected them to the 26-year-old Fields, who never got a chance to start for the team for a full season. But with Fields also interested in testing the open market, that left Pittsburgh needing other options to consider.
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The Steelers were linked to their own two free-agent quarterbacks, plus Sam Darnold and Rodgers. On the first day of 2025 NFL free agency, Darnold agreed to a deal with the Seahawks, already leaving Pittsburgh without a backup option to Fields. Then, soon after, Fields opted to sign with a new team, reaching a deal with the Jets. Quickly, that took two of Pittsburgh’s top options off the board, with the idea of a Fields reunion becoming obsolete.
Based on their original four quarterback options, the Steelers were left with just Rodgers or Wilson to consider signing. Comparing the 36-year-old Wilson to Rodgers, there are pros and cons to each quarterback, but the Steelers have already seen what they can get out of Wilson. He posted 2,482 passing yards, 16 touchdowns and five interceptions for Pittsburgh in 2024, which were solid numbers. But he also didn’t lead the team to any playoff success, limiting the team at times as a passer.
With Rodgers, the Steelers don’t just land a new face that brings hope that he can take the team to another level, but they also get a future Hall-of-Famer who has undoubtedly had a better overall career than Wilson. Rodgers isn’t at all the same quarterback he once was, more immobile than ever after a significant injury in 2023. But even in a down season in 2024, he had good numbers with New York and displayed the same arm talent that had previously led him to MVP awards and playoff success.
The best case scenario for Pittsburgh is for Rodgers to stay healthy, remain a highly effective pocket passer than can throw a great deep ball, become a leader for the team and rely on a strong group of weapons, including Metcalf, Jaylen Warren and Pat Freiermuth. The Steelers are banking more so on Rodgers’ upside than what he displayed last season with the Jets.
As for Rodgers, the Steelers offer him a win-now team that didn’t just need a starting quarterback, but one that could immediately step in and work with a talented offense and veteran head coach, rather than him trying to uplift a young team or a non-playoff contender in his older years.
Retirement may have been a real option for Rodgers if there weren’t strong fits in free agency, but Pittsburgh is the kind of 2025 landing spot that makes sense for the aging passer. No matter how his Steelers tenure plays out, it could be one last hurrah for Rodgers before he calls it quits on football.
MORE: Why Najee Harris left the Steelers for a new AFC squad
Aaron Rodgers age
Rodgers is 41 years old, making him the oldest current player in the NFL following Jason Peters’ retirement.
The new Steelers quarterback will turn 42 on Dec. 2, 2025.
Aaron Rodgers stats
| Year | Record | Comp. % | Passing yards | Pass TDs | INTs | Rating |
| 2005 | — | 56.3 | 65 | 0 | 1 | 39.8 |
| 2006 | — | 40.0 | 46 | 0 | 0 | 48.2 |
| 2007 | — | 71.4 | 218 | 1 | 0 | 106.0 |
| 2008 | 6-10 | 63.6 | 4,038 | 28 | 13 | 93.8 |
| 2009 | 11-5 | 64.7 | 4,434 | 30 | 7 | 103.2 |
| 2010 | 10-5 | 65.7 | 3,922 | 28 | 11 | 101.2 |
| 2011 | 14-1 | 68.3 | 4,643 | 45 | 6 | 122.5 |
| 2012 | 11-5 | 67.2 | 4,295 | 39 | 8 | 108.0 |
| 2013 | 6-3 | 66.6 | 2,536 | 17 | 6 | 104.9 |
| 2014 | 12-4 | 65.6 | 4,381 | 38 | 5 | 112.2 |
| 2015 | 10-6 | 60.7 | 3,821 | 31 | 8 | 92.7 |
| 2016 | 10-6 | 65.7 | 4,428 | 40 | 7 | 104.2 |
| 2017 | 4-3 | 64.7 | 1,675 | 16 | 6 | 97.2 |
| 2018 | 6-9-1 | 62.3 | 4,442 | 25 | 2 | 97.6 |
| 2019 | 13-3 | 62.0 | 4,002 | 26 | 4 | 95.4 |
| 2020 | 13-3 | 70.7 | 4,299 | 48 | 5 | 121.5 |
| 2021 | 13-3 | 68.9 | 4,115 | 37 | 4 | 111.9 |
| 2022 | 8-9 | 64.6 | 3,695 | 26 | 12 | 91.1 |
| 2023 | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 39.6 |
| 2024 | 5-12 | 63.0 | 3,897 | 28 | 11 | 90.5 |
| Career | 153-87-1 | 65.1 | 62,952 | 503 | 116 | 102.6 |
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