FS1 host Joy Taylor didn’t mince words about Aaron Rodgers, slamming the quarterback for not showing up at OTAs with the Pittsburgh Steelers—even though, as it stands, the QB hasn’t inked any deal with the team and remains a free agent.
Despite being cut loose by the New York Jets earlier this year after a rocky stint, the four-time NFL MVP is widely tipped to join the Steelers roster for the 2025 NFL season. Rodgers has been coy, giving subtle indications of donning the black and gold later in the year, although his contract with the Steelers isn’t official yet.
Rodgers recently made an appearance on ‘The Joe Rogan Experience,’ where he disclosed that personal reasons, which included providing support for a friend fighting cancer, were behind his delay in committing to any NFL team in the current offseason.
“I’ve been in the weeds with these people who are close to me that have cancer,” Rodgers confided to Rogan.
At a Q&A session hosted by musician Mike Stud, Rodgers faced queries about potential play for the Chicago Bears, to which he replied with a tease: “No, but I believe there’s a team that might play in Chicago this year on a road trip,” alluding to a possible future with the Steelers, who have a scheduled game against the Bears at Soldier Field come Nov. 23.
The fact Rodgers has yet to sign with the Steelers means he’s skipping out on Pittsburgh’s OTAs, which kicked off this week. These sessions would have been a prime chance for Rodgers to bond with potential teammates and get acclimated to a new environment.
DON’T MISS
This absence has drawn sharp criticism from Taylor, who lambasted Rodgers for not joining the Steelers.
“Why?! Why?! This is the Pittsburgh Steelers,” Taylor exclaimed. “They have six Lombardi’s. They’re coached by first-ballot Hall of Famer Mike Tomlin who has never had a losing season.
“And we’re sitting around talking about Aaron Rodgers is not there on the first day of OTAs. Mandatory or not, where’s your pride? Where’s your dignity? Where’s your respect for the game? Where’s your respect for this organization? Where’s this organization’s respect for the history they have in this league?
“What are we talking about? He’s never played there before! He doesn’t know any of these teammates. He doesn’t know the streets to get to the facility. He doesn’t know the doctors, the rehab crew. He doesn’t know anybody! He doesn’t know anybody. He doesn’t know where to get his smoothies. Nothing. Why would you not be there?
“Why am I supposed to take this seriously? It’s not about him not being at non-mandatory OTAs for a team that he’s been with for 22 years, do what you want to do. You won five games last year. The year before that you didn’t play because you tore your Achilles. The year before that you missed the playoffs. What are we talking about?”.
