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The Steelers continue to wait for an answer.
Though a couple of dominoes have fallen at the quarterback in the 2025 NFL free agency period — Justin Fields to the New York Jets, Sam Darnold to the Seattle Seahawks — there’s one quarterback that’s holding up the rest of the market. That man is Aaron Rodgers, who became a free agent for the first time in his professional career on Thursday with his official release from the Jets.
Rodgers has reportedly been in talks with several teams looking to get a deal done, including the Pittsburgh Steelers, the New York Giants and, most recently, the Minnesota Vikings. Now two days into the new league year, Rodgers has yet to land with a new team despite rumored interest. It appears the hold-up in deciding his future, at least at this time, is the Vikings.
Dianna Russini of The Athletic reported Friday that, “The Vikings are having discussions about what they want to do at quarterback and if they want Rodgers. Rodgers is giving them time and waiting to hear from Minnesota. The Vikings have yet to make a decision.”
At the crux of that discussion for the Vikings is quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who was drafted 10th overall by Minnesota in the 2025 NFL Draft. Unfortunately, McCarthy suffered a knee injury in the 2024 preseason that kept him out of the lineup for his entire rookie season, leaving the Vikings in a position without as much insight as they’d probably like at this point regarding his development on the field. With Sam Darnold as the starter, the Vikings went 14-3, ranking ninth in the league in points scored (432) and fifth in points against (332) — far more competitive than most expected given skepticism about Darnold’s upside as a starter.
Given the general consideration of the Vikings as a contender in 2025, the team’s pursuit of a veteran quarterback makes sense. Even at the age of 41, Rodgers would offer them stability in the passing game, especially given the proficiency of the Vikings’ skill position group with WRs Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison and TE T.J. Hockenson, all working under innovative HC Kevin O’Connell. The Steelers, meanwhile, are further from contention at this point, even despite the talent upgrade at wide receiver with the acquisition of D.K. Metcalf from the Seattle Seahawks. Arthur Smith pales in comparison as a play-caller to O’Connell, too; it’s understandable why Rodgers’ preference could lie with the Vikings.
While Rodgers continues to mull his future (and the Vikings theirs), the Steelers sit in play with just Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson as their only two quarterbacks under contract for 2025. After spending 2024 with the Tennessee Titans, Rudolph signed a two-year, $8 million contract with the Steelers. The former third-rounder went 1-4 with the Titans last season, totaling 1,530 passing yards, 9 TD and 9 INT — a less-than-impressive box score, though his history of saving the Steelers’ 2023 campaign and the ensuing trip to the Wild Card Round will always earn him some grace with Steelers fans.
Among the other best-available QBs are Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston and Joe Flacco… so, a remarkably thin list of options. There’s also veteran Kirk Cousins, currently signed with the Atlanta Falcons, whose time is up as a starter in their system after struggling in the 2024 season. However, there’s some conjecture that the Falcons, knowing the current quarterback market, are in a position with some increased leverage over QB-needy teams like the Steelers in regards to a potential trade.
Once Rodgers does sign, expect the domino for Russell Wilson to fall soon after.