The Pittsburgh Steelers have made it official: Aaron Rodgers will be under center as their starting quarterback for the 2025 NFL season.
After signing a $13.7 million one-year deal, Rodgers is already bringing clarity, and excitement, to Pittsburgh’s quarterback room. During the team’s first day of minicamp, head coach Mike Tomlin addressed lingering speculation and made his stance clear.
“I mean, read his resume,” Tomlin said. “We’re excited about him being here. He’s excited to be here. But we’ll make no bold predictions; we’ll just roll our sleeves up and work.”
Rodgers’s deal includes $10 million guaranteed with another $5.85 million in incentives, signaling the franchise’s faith in the veteran QB. His arrival immediately reshuffles the Steelers’ depth chart, raising doubts about Mason Rudolph’s role and the development of Skylar Thompson and rookie Will Howard.
Rodgers: “This Was Best for My Soul”
The 40-year-old quarterback is embracing this new chapter. After attending Tuesday’s mandatory minicamp, Aaron Rodgers opened up about why he chose Pittsburgh.
“A lot of decisions I’ve made from ego, even if they turn out well, are unfulfilling. This was a decision best for my soul,” Rodgers said.
He added that Tomlin’s leadership played a huge role in his decision:
“It starts with Mike Tomlin. I’ve been a fan of his for a long time. There’s a few iconic franchises in the NFL. I played for one of them for 18 years. This is another.”
Rodgers noted the rich quarterback history tied to Pittsburgh and said it felt like the city had been part of his story all along.
A Legacy Opportunity
Aaron isn’t hiding from the expectations. At the twilight of his career, the comparisons to Tom Brady’s late-career success are inevitably circling. And this season could define Rodgers’ final legacy. For the Steelers, it’s a high-reward gamble on a Hall of Fame-caliber QB.
Whether Rodgers can stay healthy and elevate the Steelers’ offense remains to be seen, but for now, he’s QB1, and Pittsburgh is buzzing.
Read More: 10 Reasons Aaron Rodgers Should Just Retire
