Veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers‘ decision to sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers felt like a forgone conclusion for months. But Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay revealed Wednesday that Rodgers could have ended up in the City of Angels.
McVay told NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football” host Kyle Brandt that one of the Rams’ top goals in the offseason was figuring out a deal with incumbent starter Matthew Stafford. If it hadn’t worked out the way it did, Los Angeles’ contingency plans included making a push to sign Rodgers.
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“I have a ton of respect for (Rodgers’) body of work,” McVay said. “I’ve gotten to know Aaron and really enjoy the conversations and the approach, the way he thinks about the game. So, that (signing Rodgers) was a possibility.”
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Near the beginning of the offseason, the Rams had permitted Stafford to seek a trade as he and his agent explored the veteran’s market value for a potential new contract. Despite reported interest from the Las Vegas Raiders and New York Giants, Stafford decided to remain in Los Angeles.
Ultimately, the Rams renegotiated Stafford’s contract to give him a pay bump. Though he was initially due $58 million over the next two seasons, the new deal will pay him $84 million over the final two years of the four-year extension he signed in 2022.
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Rodgers, meanwhile, remained a free agent until late last week, when news broke that he intended to fly to Pittsburgh to sign with the Steelers ahead of their mandatory minicamp. The former Jets quarterback officially signed his contract on Saturday and was present for Pittsburgh’s first day of minicamp on Tuesday.
“I know that there’s a lot of people in Pittsburgh that are really excited that’s finally come to fruition, and I’m a big fan of his,” McVay said.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Aaron Rodgers: Rams considered signing veteran, says Sean McVay