The Aaron Rodgers saga is officially over. Earlier this week, he notified the Pittsburgh Steelers of his intent to sign with them, and on Saturday, he arrived in Pittsburgh to make it official. Rodgers signed a one-year deal, potentially signaling that this could be the final season of his storied career. Although the process dragged on, Rodgers had given the Steelers some level of assurance that he would suit up for them.
“I just think verbally, behind the scenes, not that he guaranteed it, but he’s told [the Steelers], ‘Listen, I’m gonna play for you. I just don’t want to go there and then miss part of mandatory minicamp because of my personal issues. I’m pretty sure they’re gonna be solved by the end of May, at least in my satisfaction where I can give you my all,’” Ian O’Connor said.
The two sides had been in contract negotiations for months, and it appears the delay was mostly due to Rodgers’ personal matters—not financial disagreements.
“Contract parameters have been in place for months, per Pelissero. Once the deal is finalized and Rodgers signs, he’ll be able to take the field with Pittsburgh,” Yahoo Sports’ Frank Schwab wrote.
Although Rodgers may have looked like the Steelers’ top target from the outside, he was actually their third option, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
One of the most highly anticipated moments of the upcoming season will come in Week 8, when the Steelers face Rodgers’ former team, the Green Bay Packers. If both quarterbacks are healthy, Rodgers will go head-to-head with his successor, Jordan Love. Love, for his part, is simply hoping to exchange jerseys.
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“It’s going to be fun. It’s going to be awesome. I’m excited for it,” said Packers QB Jordan Love. “I can’t wait to be on different sides, meeting up and I know we’ll talk pre-game, things like that. And hopefully we can exchange jerseys after.”
Love has nothing but respect for Rodgers, having spent time under his wing in Green Bay. It’s widely believed that the feeling is mutual between the two.
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