What’s subsequent for veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers after Mike Tomlin departed the Pittsburgh Steelers?
A return to the NFL stays potential for subsequent yr, however it appears a return to Pittsburgh is off the desk.
Reporting on Saturday forward of the NFL’s Divisional Spherical, Ian Rapoport of the NFL Community indicated that following Tomlin’s determination to step down as the pinnacle coach of the Steelers, Rapoport “wouldn’t count on” Rodgers to return to Pittsburgh. Rodgers signed a one-year deal to play for Tomlin forward of the 2025 season, and through his first official remarks after placing pen to paper on that contract, the veteran quarterback made it clear that taking part in for Tomlin was an enormous a part of the choice.
“It begins with Mike Tomlin,” Rodgers stated. “I’ve been a fan of his for a very long time. There’s a number of iconic franchises within the NFL. I performed for certainly one of them for 18 years. That is one other a kind of. There’s one thing particular about clearly this space. So many nice quarterbacks are from Pittsburgh. I really feel like Pittsburgh has been part of my profession from the start.”
Following Pittsburgh’s loss to the Houston Texans on Wild Card weekend, Rodgers not solely demurred when requested about his personal future — noting he wouldn’t be making any emotional selections on Monday night time — however provided a full-throated endorsement of his head coach.
”I imply, this league has modified quite a bit in my 21 years,” he stated on Monday night time. “You realize, whenever you hear a dialog concerning the Mike Tomlins of the world, the Matt LaFleurs of the world, these are simply two that type of I performed for, and once I first obtained within the league, there wouldn’t be dialog about whether or not these guys had been on the recent seat. You realize?
“However the way in which that the league is roofed now and the way in which that there’s snap selections and the validity given to the Twitter specialists and all of the specialists on TV now, who make it seem to be they know what the hell they’re speaking about, to me, that’s an absolute joke,” continued Rodgers.
“And for both of these two guys to be on a scorching seat is admittedly apropos of the place we’re at as a society and a league. As a result of clearly Matt’s completed a whole lot of nice issues in Inexperienced Bay, and we had a whole lot of success. Mike T. has had extra success than rattling close to anyone within the league, you understand, for the final 19, 20 years.”
However with Tomlin now on his approach out, it seems Rodgers is about to comply with.
The place may that depart the longer term Corridor of Fame quarterback? Wanting across the league there will probably be potential choices. A number of groups choosing close to the highest of the primary spherical have a necessity at quarterback, together with his former crew, the New York Jets, who choose second within the 2026 NFL Draft. The Jets had been dealt a blow when Oregon quarterback Dante Moore introduced that he was returning to high school for one more season. Nevertheless, a reunion appears unlikely.
Different choices are the Arizona Cardinals, who look to be shifting on from Kyler Murray, and even the Minnesota Vikings. This was an choice that was mentioned final yr earlier than Rodgers signed with the Steelers, and it will full the Inexperienced Bay-New York-Minnesota path that Brett Favre beforehand walked. The Miami Dolphins is also an choice, or Rodgers may wait till deep throughout coaching camp to see if a chance arises.
Or this previous season was certainly the ultimate chapter of his taking part in profession.
