Back in April, when veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers was still mulling his options with several teams, we saw a number of reports quoting that Rodgers had said he’d be willing to play for $10MM on a one-year contract in 2025. While the Steelers are still getting a pretty good bargain on the reported numbers we saw this afternoon (one-year, $13.5MM with $10MM guaranteed and $6MM in incentives), it’s still more than the $10MM number that was so often quoted. 
An easy way to reconcile this could simply be to say that Pittsburgh wanted to honor his commitment to play on a lower-end, try-out deal while adding a little incentive to ensure he found his way to the Steel City. Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer has a different theory.
In a post on X, shortly following the announcement of details on Rodgers’ new contract, Breer wrote, “For what it’s worth, I’d heard the $10 million number, at the time, was sort of exclusive to the Rams. As in, an example of how badly he wanted to go there in March.”
As the Rams were allowing their Super Bowl-winning passer Matthew Stafford to talk to other teams and gauge his market, a link seemingly emerged between the team and Rodgers. A northern California native and Cal alumnus, Rodgers has always been drawn to the potential of returning to his home state. A report in late February delivered rumors that Rodgers had the Rams in his cross hairs, and that he intended to, once again, take long-time teammate Davante Adams with him.
This rumor held a lot of weight at the time, considering that the wide receiver had already expressed interest in returning to the west coast earlier that month, specifically calling out the Rams and Chargers in the process. Ultimately, Adams did end up signing with the Rams, but at that point, the team had already agreed to secure Stafford for another season.
So, according to Breer, Rodgers’ quote may have been taken a bit out of context. While it may have just been a way to express how badly he would’ve loved to play alongside Adams in their home state, Rodgers still accepted a frugal, team-friendly deal in Pittsburgh on similar terms.
I thought Steelers fans were smart??? Why would you complain about getting the best QB to ever play the game!!! Wouldn’t be surprised if they make a run at the Super Bowl this year!!
Rodgers is barely over .500 as a playoff Qb. He’s overrated.
lol ok Arty
from google: Aaron Rodgers has a playoff record of 12 wins and 10 losses in his NFL career. He has one Super Bowl victory, which came in Super Bowl XLV with the Green Bay Packers.
2 games over .500, please!
Its a team sport bud, not sure youre aware
That’s always the ‘go to’ line when your hero is average.
If someone keeps bringing up that its a team sport to you, maybe you should finally figure out that it is a team sport.
I’d say his 9 division titles say he was surrounded by very good teams and coaching. But 12-10 playoffs and all of a sudden his teams stunk?
Is that what you think was said, that his teams plainly stunk? Every comment you post exposes how much crayons and glue you ingested as a kid (which likely went into adulthood)
‘It’s a team sport bud, not sure youre aware’ That’s exactly what you said & I say 9 division titles says he was on very good teams, with an average playoff record.
Yes thats what I said. See how thats not that “the teams he was on were generally bad”? W-L is a team stat, they dont just switch to individual stats in the playoffs because its guess what, its a team sport.
Do you actually think one person on each team dictates a teams playoff record? So when Mahomes lost the SB to the Bucs, hes a bad QB and its all his fault despite him being the one of the only bright spot on his team that day?
Cant believe you needed this spelled out for you
QB’s are the leader & face of the team. And when you you’re 2 games over .500 in the playoffs, that’s on them, not the team. That’s how it works. Rodgers was average in the playoffs.
Brett Farve is also 2 games over .500 in the playoffs, 13-11.
For whatever reasons, your HoF QB’s were average come playoff time.
Yeah so thats not how it works. It doesnt magically become a 1 person sport just because it better suits your terrible take.
Serious question, do you have multiple learning disabilities or have you dedicated your the majority of your obviously loser life to posting the worst takes on PFTR. Rage bait or not i feel bad for you.
Until next time, Arty.
*dedicated the
remove the your
During my 40+ years of watching and playing the game, the QB gets the credit when they win & take the heat when they lose. Still true today.
During your 40+ miserable years you still cant figure out its a team sport. Youre hopeless
Did I hurt your feelings? Still have Farve and Rodgers posters up in your mom’s basement?
Around 40 years of HoF QB play and only 2 rings to show for it, embarrassing.
The fans are probably smarter than the Steeler management which spent money to build a statue that celebrates a broken play.
He might have been the best 7 years ago..but without a doubt a bottom tier qb since
7 years ago, Tom ruled the NFL followed by Mahomes.
If he hits every incentive, $19.5 million is cheap for a starting QB. Though we don’t know what those incentives are and how they are tied to team performance.
So you think he held the Steelers hostage for an extra 3.5 mil? Lol. Would have only played for 10 for the rams… cmon.
But will say I’m over the drama and not looking to his in season Pat McAfee garbage
So – I can read this as he very reluctantly accepted the Steelers then?
As a long time Packer fan, there is a history of Rodgers saying he’ll go below market value, then resetting the market in his next deal. The $10m thing would have happened for no one.
That said, the Steelers are much more well managed than the Jets, should be a playoff team, and I think he knows it’s the last ride. It’ll be interesting to see how it plays out.
13MM is still way below market value and even if he hits every incentive itd be way below market value. Im not sure what him getting top end contracts at the peak of his career had to do with this one, he took a team friendly deal
I still think there could be moving pieces prior to opening day. He signed, but how much of his heart is actually in playing with Pittsburgh? He could always still retire and walk away if the next couple of months don’t play out to his satisfaction.
Based on his career earnings, $19.5 million is a drop in the bucket.
Steelers, haha……..huge mistake signing Rodger’s, looks like Tomlin gonna be a game or two short of .500 this year, there goes the mediocre winning record, would’ve been better served drafting Sanders, can’t say he’d get the team a .500 record, but at least they’d had something to build on
They would have not been better served drafting Sanders get a grip lmao
Yea that’s laughable that Rodger’s thought the Rams would be so willing to add him as an upgrade over Stafford.He’s not an upgrade over Stafford over at this point in his career.That report in February was drummed up by Rodger’s himself no doubt.He needed a market.
Now wouldn’t that have been something?