Noteworthy members of the NFL community, such as retired wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson, have suggested throughout the spring that free-agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers will sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers and report to the club before Pittsburgh begins the organized team activities portion of the offseason program on May 27.
During a Monday appearance on Pittsburgh sports radio station 93.7 The Fan, Steelers insider Mark Kaboly of “The Pat McAfee Show” poured cold water over that particular Rodgers-related theory.
“He’s not coming to OTAs,” Kaboly directly said about Rodgers, as shared by Ross McCorkle of Steelers Depot. “You crazy? …Aaron Rodgers, throughout his career, is not an offseason guy. So I don’t know how we’re surprised that he doesn’t wanna show up to minicamp or OTAs.”
Kaboly’s take is not entirely accurate. Shortly after the Green Bay Packers traded Rodgers to the New York Jets in the spring of 2023, he quickly began working to build on-the-field chemistry with new teammates such as wide receiver Garrett Wilson.
That said, Rodgers more recently generated headlines when he skipped Gang Green’s two-day mandatory minicamp last June because of what was referred to as a pre-planned trip to Egypt. A report from this past winter indicated that the new Jets regime wanted Rodgers to “attend all training camp practices” before the club ultimately decided to move on from the 41-year-old.
One would think Rodgers would be eager to do more than complete a single workout with new Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf if the future Hall of Famer was serious about helping Pittsburgh pursue more than a playoff berth this coming season. On Monday, Kaboly indicated Rodgers won’t need much time to show he’s the best player in a quarterback room currently occupied by Mason Rudolph, Skylar Thompson and 2025 sixth-round draft pick Will Howard.
“I think he has plenty of time from July 27th [training camp] to September whatever to get where he needs to be,” Kaboly added about Rodgers being ready to face a live defense as Pittsburgh’s QB1 by the time Week 1 of the campaign arrives.
It’s believed Pittsburgh could target either Jets receiver Allen Lazard or Romeo Doubs of the Packers, two of Rodgers’ former teammates, after the Steelers traded George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys last week.
“With Pickens gone from Pittsburgh, it’s worth mentioning that Aaron Rodgers used to speak very highly of Romeo Doubs’ football IQ and route-running ability,” NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated wrote for a piece published on Monday. “If Rodgers is there, it might be worth the Steelers calling the Packers to try to bring in a familiar face for the quarterback.”
It certainly seems as if individuals such as Kaboly and Breer have reasons to believe Rodgers will put pen to paper on a deal with the Steelers at some point between May 12 and the end of July. For what it’s worth, Pittsburgh’s mandatory minicamp is scheduled to wrap up on June 12.
