Steelers Insider Reveals Backup Plan If Aaron Rodgers Doesn’t Sign originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
It is June and Aaron Rodgers has yet to sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The team let its 2024 quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Justin Fields walk in free agency, with Wilson going to the New York Giants and Fields landing with the New York Jets.
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Heading into free agency, the best quarterbacks available through either free agency or trade were Sam Darnold, who signed with the Seattle Seahawks, Geno Smith, who was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders, and Rodgers.
The Steelers passed on Darnold and Smith, leaving Rodgers as their main target. The two sides met in the middle of march at the Steelers’ facilities for approximately six hours. According to multiple reports, it was a successful meeting with Rodgers and the team agreeing to stay in touch.
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8).Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
It’s been more than two months since their in person meeting, but no deal is imminent, at least to the public’s knowledge.
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Steelers insider Gerry Dulac spoke about the current situation on 102.5 DVE Monday Morning (Local Pittsburgh radio show) and if it’s not Rodgers, the starting quarterback for the 2025 season is on the roster.
“I believe and have been told that if it’s not Aaron Rodgers that we’ll find a veteran quarterback to backup Mason Rudolph,” Dulac said.
The team brought back Mason Rudolph this offseason on a 2-year contract after a short stint with the Tennessee Titans in 2024. He began his career in Pittsburgh as a third-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, spending six seasons with the franchise before leaving in free agency last year.
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As a Titan, he appeared in eight games and started in five. He completed 146 of 228 passes, 64%, for 1,530 yards and nine touchdowns, proving to be a serviceable backup at the very least.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph (2) at the line of scrimmage with center Mason Cole (61) and guard James Daniels (78) against the Buffalo Bills in the third quarter of a 2024 AFC wild card game.Mark Konezny-Imagn Images
With the Steelers, he started 13 of 21 games he appeared in, completing 63.5% of his throws, for 3,085 yards and 19 touchdowns.
Following the 2021 season, Steelers legend Ben Roethlisberger retired, marking an end of an era. It seemed like Rudolph was in line to start the next year, however, the team drafted Kenny Pickett in the first round and signed Mitchell Trubisky, which made for a competitive room.
Rudolph is in a similar situation as we approach the 2025 season, but all signs are pointing to him being the Steelers’ signal caller week one if Rodgers decides to retire.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 2, 2025, where it first appeared.