Aaron Rodgers’ NFL future in hands of one man after Russell Wilson’s $21 million New York Giants decision
Aaron Rodgers loves to take his time and drag out major career decisions. But the modern Brett Favre could immediately run out of options if one man uses his voice. GettyAaron Rogers is down to a couple teams but hasn’t made a decision[/caption] When Russell Wilson signed a one-year, $10.5 million fully guaranteed deal with the New York Giants on Tuesday, one of the greatest quarterbacks of all-time watched another potential destination removed from the board. Wilson’s deal could reach $21m with incentives, while New York had previously signed veteran Jameis Wintson as a second option. When free agency started, the mercurial Rodgers was the biggest name available, despite disappointing with the New York Jets and being pushed away by the franchise following a 6-12 run. The Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns, Minnesota Vikings, Pittsburgh Steelers and Giants were widely seen as possible landing spots for the 41-year-old Rodgers, who ranks seventh all-time in career passing yards (62,952) and has won four NFL MVPs. After Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen answered lingering job uncertainty by giving the Giants a 1-2 punch of Wilson and Winston, Rodgers is effectively down to two teams. The Vikings, who are one big decision away from turning a 14-3 team over to unproven second-year QB J.J. McCarthy. And the Steelers, who went 10-7 last season, then moved on from Justin Fields and Wilson. Rodgers in football-mad Pittsburgh makes the most sense in 2025. The Steelers are one of the NFL’s most legendary teams and possessed the NFL’s eighth-ranked scoring defense (20.4) last year. But does Mike Tomlin want to go all-in with the increasingly unpredictable Rodgers, after getting rid of Kenny Pickett, Mason Rudolph, Fields, and Wilson? GettyMike Tomlin could be coaching for his future if the Steelers sign Rodgers[/caption] GettyOne of the NFL’s best all-time QBs hasn’t been the same since leaving Green Bay[/caption] GettyJ.J. McCarthy also faces an uncertain future with the Vikings[/caption] It wasn’t that long ago that frustrated Steelers fans put together an online petition to have Tomlin fired. And for all of Tomlin’s .500-or-above success — Pittsburgh’s leader is 183-107-2 on the sideline and has made the playoffs 12 times — he’s not been able to get past the AFC Wild Card round since 2017. Then there’s the fact that Rodgers reportedly has serious interest in joining the Vikings, and could drag out his Favre-like decision until after the 2025 NFL Draft. It was obvious that Rodgers wasn’t 100 percent in on being associated with the Jets last season, when he prioritized a personal trip to Egypt over a mandatory practice. Tomlin has been hammering the Steeler Way for almost 20 years. “The standard is the standard,” Tomlin said. “We’re going to do things the Steeler Way.” NFL's Greatest...... Ranking the top 10...... Quarterbacks of all-time – Can anyone better Tom Brady? Wide receivers of all-time – Does Randy Moss or Jerry Rice come out on top? Running backs of all-time – Stacking Jim Brown, Barrie Sanders, Walter Payton, Emmett Smith and more Tight ends of all-time – How does Travis Kelce compare? Since Rodgers decided that Green Bay wasn’t big enough for him, he’s lost his center and drifted to the edge of NFL darkness. Former teammates often defend the NFL’s A-Rod. “I just feel like he does it the right way,” New York Jets running back Isaiah Davis exclusively told talkSPORT. “He’s 20-plus years in the league and he’s one of the hardest workers in the weight room. “You take from him the work ethic. And no matter what you’ve done in your career — in NFL or in life — you know hard work is going to pay off.” Fans are more divided than ever about the future Hall of Famer. “Rogers is a washed, toxic diva,” posted one fan, after the Vikings initially declined to place their team in Rodgers’ hands. The Steelers could be the perfect answer that allows a revived Rodgers to return to the light in 2025. The second he signs, he would become their best QB since Ben Roethlisberger. But it’s not really up to the man who balances super-cool touchdowns with conspiracy theories and ayahuasca. The Steelers still belong to Tomlin, and it’s his call on whether Rodgers is allowed to link his polarizing name with the black-and-gold’s legacy. Stay up to date with the latest from across the NFL via our talkSPORT Facebook page, and subscribe to our Endzone YouTube channel for news, views and exclusive interviews as we build up to the NFL Draft.
Aaron Rodgers loves to take his time and drag out major career decisions.
But the modern Brett Favre could immediately run out of options if one man uses his voice.
When Russell Wilson signed a one-year, $10.5 million fully guaranteed deal with the New York Giants on Tuesday, one of the greatest quarterbacks of all-time watched another potential destination removed from the board.
Wilson’s deal could reach $21m with incentives, while New York had previously signed veteran Jameis Wintson as a second option.
When free agency started, the mercurial Rodgers was the biggest name available, despite disappointing with the New York Jets and being pushed away by the franchise following a 6-12 run.
The Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns, Minnesota Vikings, Pittsburgh Steelers and Giants were widely seen as possible landing spots for the 41-year-old Rodgers, who ranks seventh all-time in career passing yards (62,952) and has won four NFL MVPs.
After Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen answered lingering job uncertainty by giving the Giants a 1-2 punch of Wilson and Winston, Rodgers is effectively down to two teams.
The Vikings, who are one big decision away from turning a 14-3 team over to unproven second-year QB J.J. McCarthy.
And the Steelers, who went 10-7 last season, then moved on from Justin Fields and Wilson.
Rodgers in football-mad Pittsburgh makes the most sense in 2025.
The Steelers are one of the NFL’s most legendary teams and possessed the NFL’s eighth-ranked scoring defense (20.4) last year.
But does Mike Tomlin want to go all-in with the increasingly unpredictable Rodgers, after getting rid of Kenny Pickett, Mason Rudolph, Fields, and Wilson?
It wasn’t that long ago that frustrated Steelers fans put together an online petition to have Tomlin fired.
And for all of Tomlin’s .500-or-above success — Pittsburgh’s leader is 183-107-2 on the sideline and has made the playoffs 12 times — he’s not been able to get past the AFC Wild Card round since 2017.
Then there’s the fact that Rodgers reportedly has serious interest in joining the Vikings, and could drag out his Favre-like decision until after the 2025 NFL Draft.
It was obvious that Rodgers wasn’t 100 percent in on being associated with the Jets last season, when he prioritized a personal trip to Egypt over a mandatory practice.
Tomlin has been hammering the Steeler Way for almost 20 years.
“The standard is the standard,” Tomlin said. “We’re going to do things the Steeler Way.”
NFL's Greatest......
Ranking the top 10......
Quarterbacks of all-time – Can anyone better Tom Brady?
Wide receivers of all-time – Does Randy Moss or Jerry Rice come out on top?
Running backs of all-time – Stacking Jim Brown, Barrie Sanders, Walter Payton, Emmett Smith and more
Tight ends of all-time – How does Travis Kelce compare?
Since Rodgers decided that Green Bay wasn’t big enough for him, he’s lost his center and drifted to the edge of NFL darkness.
Former teammates often defend the NFL’s A-Rod.
“I just feel like he does it the right way,” New York Jets running back Isaiah Davis exclusively told talkSPORT.
“He’s 20-plus years in the league and he’s one of the hardest workers in the weight room.
“You take from him the work ethic. And no matter what you’ve done in your career — in NFL or in life — you know hard work is going to pay off.”
Fans are more divided than ever about the future Hall of Famer.
“Rogers is a washed, toxic diva,” posted one fan, after the Vikings initially declined to place their team in Rodgers’ hands.
The Steelers could be the perfect answer that allows a revived Rodgers to return to the light in 2025.
The second he signs, he would become their best QB since Ben Roethlisberger.
But it’s not really up to the man who balances super-cool touchdowns with conspiracy theories and ayahuasca.
The Steelers still belong to Tomlin, and it’s his call on whether Rodgers is allowed to link his polarizing name with the black-and-gold’s legacy.
Stay up to date with the latest from across the NFL via our talkSPORT Facebook page, and subscribe to our Endzone YouTube channel for news, views and exclusive interviews as we build up to the NFL Draft.
