Future Hall of Fame QB Aaron Rodgers to join Pittsburgh Steelers

Future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers is signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

For the majority of his two-decade career, quarterback Aaron Rodgers was one of the most valuable players in the NFL. But this offseason, when the 41-year-old was let go by one team, it was unclear if another team would want him.

The four-time NFL MVP and the league’s oldest active player appeared to provide resolution to one of the most intriguing offseason storylines on Thursday by agreeing to sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers as a free agent, the team announced Thursday.

It is a union of two sides that need each other. 

Pittsburgh used both Justin Fields and Russell Wilson last season to moderate success but both quarterbacks departed earlier this offseason. After a 4-2 record with Fields as the starter, Pittsburgh gave the starting job to Wilson, a Super Bowl champion more than a decade earlier with Seattle, once the veteran recovered from an injury suffered during training camp. Wilson made an early splash with his ability to throw deep balls but couldn’t sustain the offensive progress as the Steelers lost six of their last eight games and their season ended in the playoffs’ first round. The Steelers have not won a playoff game since 2017.

Rodgers needed a team that believes he can look like his old self after two highly underwhelming seasons with the New York Jets. Rodgers tore the Achilles tendon in his first game in 2023 and missed the rest of the season. The Jets cleaned house after going 5-12 last season, a reset that included informing Rodgers on Feb. 13 that he would no longer be a Jet. Rodgers was noncommittal about his future as the final weeks of the season, and potentially his career, approached.