The writing’s been clear all through the offseason that Aaron Rodgers will join the Pittsburgh Steelers, especially after their pass on a quarterback until late in the 2025 NFL Draft.
That’s amid rumors Rodgers had a hand in the Steelers turning down Shedeur Sanders. But on Wednesday’s ‘The Joe Rogan Experience,’ the gridiron legend – who once dated Danica Patrick – finally revealed the personal reason behind his unsigned status this far into May: a close friend’s cancer struggle.
“I’ve figured it out the last year when I’ve been in the weeds with these people who are close to me that have cancer,” Rodgers confided on the podcast, well into a three-hour conversation.
“It’s not really about football right now. Because the conversations have been had. There’s no more contemplation. I’m taking care of my people right now, and I’m taking care of my personal life responsibilities, and I’m keeping the conversation open as well.
“I’m in a serious relationship. I have off-the-field stuff going on that requires my attention. I have personal commitments I have made. I have a couple of people in my inner, inner circle who are battling some difficult stuff. So, I have a lot of things that are taking my attention.”
As for the Steelers, they’re currently pinning their hopes on Mason Rudolph as their main QB. Rudolph’s support squad includes former seventh-rounder Skylar Thompson and newcomer Will Howard, the 2025 sixth-round selection.
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Steelers’ head coach Mike Tomlin expressed a measured optimism when discussing the potential signing of Aaron Rodgers after the NFL Draft. “That’s certainly a possibility,” Tomlin remarked about the prospect of bringing the 41-year-old on board.
“I’m not going to forecast the ifs and whens regarding not only him, but any other potential free agent. We’ve had really productive talks with him, and I’ve enjoyed having productive talks with him and getting to know him.”
In an intriguing twist, the NFL has slated the Steelers to go head-to-head with the New York Jets, Rodgers’ team for the past two seasons, in Week 1.
Mike North, the NFL’s vice president of broadcasting and scheduling, clarified that the league didn’t have any insider scoop on Rodgers’ signing decisions while crafting the schedule.
“We don’t know anything more than anybody else,” North stated during a conference call. “The schedule was built for Coach [Mike] Tomlin and for the Steelers, and if Aaron decides to play it probably just makes many, if not all, the Steelers games a little more interesting.”
Adding to the drama, Pittsburgh is set to clash with the Green Bay Packers, the team that drafted Rodgers in the first round back in 2005, during Sunday Night Football in Week 8.
