Four plays into his 2023 season with the New York Jets, it looked like quarterback Aaron Rodgers’s playing days were finished.
In his first game with New York, Rodgers blew out his Achilles and was done for the year.
There was talk of him hanging up his cleats, but Rodgers returned in 2024 and started every game while passing for a respectable 3,897 yards, 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
Despite the decent numbers, the Jets still finished 5-12.
Rodgers is now a free agent and could easily head off into the sunset at 41 years old and wait for his inevitable call into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
However, although he had hinted at retirement just two years ago, Rodgers has stated that he’d like to return.
The Jets have moved on without him, and the Pittsburgh Steelers appear to be the only NFL franchise willing to give him another shot.
Dan Graziano spoke on “Get Up” and warned the Steelers not to hitch their wagon to the former MVP.
“This is not MVP Aaron Rodgers. This is not 2020 Aaron Rodgers. This is a shell of that. … He was not markedly better last season than Mason Rudolph,” said Graziano.
“This is not MVP Aaron Rodgers. This is not 2020 Aaron Rodgers. This is a shell of that. … He was not markedly better last season than Mason Rudolph.”
—@DanGrazianoESPN pic.twitter.com/CAPmRdaKdU
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) May 26, 2025
The NFL insider continued by saying he thinks Rodgers will be “fine” if he goes to Pittsburgh, while also believing the franchise will be “fine” if they don’t sign Rodgers.
Furthermore, Graziano thinks the Steelers could pursue Kirk Cousins, another quarterback coming off a subpar year.
Last season, Pittsburgh had Justin Fields and Russell Wilson in their quarterback room, but both were allowed to sign elsewhere during free agency, leaving the team thin at the position.
