Pittsburgh Steelers News & Rumors

Steelers, T.J. Watt Want Extension Done By Training Camp

June 18th, 2025 at 10:54am CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Steelers have been working on a T.J. Watt extension this offseason, and both sides are hoping to get a deal done by training camp, according to ESPN’s Peter Schrager.

“I know both sides are really motivated to get something done here,” said Schrager during an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show. “They don’t want to go into training camp and have this thing drag on.”

Players are set to report to Pittsburgh’s training camp on July 23, giving the Steelers a month to reach an agreement with Watt. If the two sides cannot come to terms, Watt could stage a hold-in by refusing to participate in practices until he gets an extension. He already skipped OTAs and mandatory minicamp, incurring more than $100k in fines for the latter.

Both sides will be closely monitoring other edge rusher negotiations around the league. Micah Parsons is expected to become the highest-paid defender in the NFL, while Trey Hendrickson has resumed extension talks with the Bengals. Watt is unlikely to surpass Parsons’ deal, but his age and recent production are similar to Hendrickson’s. As a result, the Steelers may want to their top edge rusher signed before the Bengals do the same.

Schrager believes that will be the case, but noted that players like Myles Garrett have financially benefitted by waiting for their positional market to develop. If Watt is looking to squeeze every dollar out of what could be his last multi-year extension, he may draw out his negotiations with the Steelers to ensure that he beats Hendrickson’s price tag.

Cordarrelle Patterson Unlikely To Make Steelers’ Roster?

June 17th, 2025 at 9:10pm CST by Ben Levine

The first season of Cordarrelle Patterson‘s two-year deal with the Steelers didn’t necessarily go as planned. The veteran offensive weapon still remains on Pittsburgh’s roster, but it’s seeming increasingly likely that he won’t be sticking around for Week 1.

Steelers reporter Mark Kaboly writes that there’s “no place where [Patterson] can slot in” into the roster, and the reporter expresses skepticism that the veteran will be on the roster for the start of the 2025 season. Kaboly also wonders if the team may be holding out for a potential trade suitor.

Kaboly notes that Patterson barely had a role during OTAs. The former All-Pro was spotted “mingling in the locker room,” but that ultimately proved to be “the extent of his participation.”

With Najee Harris no longer around, the Steelers would appear to have some leftover reps at the RB position. Jaylen Warren is preparing for a starter’s workload, but Patterson could compete for backup reps with rookie third-round pick Kaleb Johnson and veteran acquisitions like Kenneth Gainwell, Trey Sermon, and Evan Hull. Considering Patterson’s versatility, the Steelers could also look to keep him around for WR reps and special teams contributions, although it sounds like the team may just prefer to roll with a younger option in those spots.

Patterson’s Swiss Army Knife profile will always make him an alluring option for teams, but it’s uncertain how many more chances the 34-year-old will get. He finished last season with only 215 yards from scrimmage, which was his worst showing since the 2015 campaign. He also pitched in a team-leading 11 kickoff returns, although it only resulted in 240 yards.

Patterson has managed to contribute in a variety of roles throughout his career. He earned All-Pro nods for his special teams ability, and he’s the NFL’s all-time leader in kickoff return touchdowns (nine). While he mostly served as a backup offensive option for the first nine seasons of his career, he showed his ability while with the Falcons in 2021, finishing with 1,166 yards from scrimmage and 11 scores. He had another 800-plus yards and eight touchdowns in 2022, but he’s been limited to only 434 yards across the past two years.

Steelers, S DeShon Elliott Agree To Extension

June 16th, 2025 at 10:33pm CST by Ben Levine

Following one of the most productive seasons of his career, DeShon Elliott is sticking in Pittsburgh for the next few years. The safety has agreed to a two-year, $12.5MM extension with the Steelers, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. The deal includes $9.21MM in guaranteed money.

Elliott inked a two-year, $6MM deal with the organization last offseason. He’ll now be under contract through the 2027 season, and Pittsburgh will now owe him $15.5MM over the next three years.

The free agent acquisition quickly leaped Damontae Kazee on the depth chart last preseason, earning the starting strong safety role opposite Minkah Fitzpatrick. Elliott proceeded to start 14 of his 15 appearances in 2024, finishing with a career-high 108 tackles to go along with one interception, a pair of forced fumbles, and six passes defended. For his efforts, Pro Football Focus ranked him 27th among 98 qualifying safeties.

A former sixth-round pick, Elliott was limited to six games through his first two years in the NFL. He emerged as a starter with the Ravens in 2020 and 2021, but his injury woes continued. When his stint in Baltimore came to an end, he bounced between the Lions and Dolphins, although he served as a starter in both spots.

The Steelers have seemingly saved the safety from journeyman status, as Elliott should stick with the organization for the next few years. Fitzpatrick is still on his near-position-leading contract through 2026, providing the organization with some continuity at the top of their safeties corps.

Kazee is no longer in the picture, so the team will be relying on some new-look depth in 2025. This grouping includes free agent acquisition Juan Thornhill and Miles Killebrew, a veteran special teamer who got into nine defensive snaps with Pittsburgh in 2024.

Steelers, Mike Tomlin Operating On Year-To-Year Arrangement

June 16th, 2025 at 10:32pm CST by Ben Levine

Every offseason brings a new wave of speculation surrounding Mike Tomlin‘s future in Pittsburgh. While his eventual exit from the organization doesn’t appear to be imminent, it sounds like the two sides also don’t have a definitive future game plan. During an appearance on the Rich Eisen Show, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero acknowledged that Tomlin and the Steelers are operating on a year-to-year arrangement.

Pelissero also noted that when the time comes for an exit, it’ll most likely be Tomlin’s decision. The reporter cautioned that the coach isn’t necessarily attached to consistent one-year deals; in fact, Pelissero said Tomlin is currently in the midst of a multi-year contract and isn’t an impending free agent.

In other words, Tomlin will continue to be the head coach of the Steelers for as long as he wants. Art Rooney is following his father’s tradition of not moving a head coach unless they have lost the locker room. Tomlin continues to command respect, and even if he somehow didn’t, Pelissero still finds it unlikely that ownership would fire or trade their iconic head coach. Rather, an exit would likely be initiated by Tomlin himself.

Pelissero is unsure when or why the coach would ever exit the franchise. The reporter notes that rival teams often check in on Tomlin’s availability, but it’s hard to envision him leaving after spending nearly two decades in Pittsburgh. Pelissero hints that the coach could eventually pursue a career in broadcasting, although it doesn’t sound like that move is imminent.

Since joining the Steelers in 2007, Tomlin has famously never had a losing season. While the Steelers only have a single Super Bowl win under their head coach, Tomlin has still helped guide the organization to 12 playoff appearances. The 53-year-old has also been granted more and more influence over the franchise, especially with personnel moves. Pelissero points to the recent Aaron Rodgers signing as another transaction that had Tomlin’s fingerprints all over it.

Outside of Bill Belichick, it’s basically unprecedented in the modern NFL for a coach to stick with one team in a two-decade span. If things continue as they have been, it sounds like Tomlin will stick with the Steelers for as long as he wants.

Steelers RB Jaylen Warren Preparing For Larger Workload

June 16th, 2025 at 8:31pm CST by Ben Levine

Despite collecting at least 500 yards from scrimmage in each of his three professional seasons, Jaylen Warren has yet to earn a start in the NFL. That will likely change in 2025, and the Steelers running back is eyeing the largest workload of his career.

Warren told reporters that he took a different tack with his offseason training in anticipation of more carries next season.

“I approached this off season differently,” Warren said (via Dale Lolley of the team’s website). “I did a lot more things for longevity wise, instead of my old-school training like just getting the cleats on and running 30 hills. I had to adapt. This game is about longevity. And like they say, the best ability is availability.”

It sounds like the running back has the support of the Steelers coaching staff. Mike Tomlin said Warren could “certainly” handle a larger workload, and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith also hinted that the fourth-year player will see an increase on the 120 carries he garnered in 2024.

RB1 Najee Harris didn’t miss a game through Warren’s first three NFL seasons, slightly limiting the backup’s reps. Harris caught on with the Chargers this offseason, meaning Warren now has the first chance of his career to earn starting reps. The 26-year-old has already shown his ability to be an offensive focal point. He finished the 2023 campaign with 1,154 yards from scrimmage, and he followed that up with an 800-plus-yard season in 2024.

Warren is expecting even more in 2025, and considering the rest of the team’s depth, there’s a solid chance he’ll get there. The rest of the team’s RB room consists of offseason acquisitions. The team used a third-round pick on Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson, and they added veterans like Kenneth Gainwell, Trey Sermon, and Evan Hull.

Steelers DL Derrick Harmon, CB Beanie Bishop In Line For Starting Roles

June 16th, 2025 at 11:28am CST by Adam La Rose

Spring practices did not settle any position battles around the NFL, of course. In the case of the Steelers, though, a pair of young defenders are in line for first-team action on a permanent basis pending on how training camp shakes out.

Derrick Harmon was among the five interior defensive linemen who were selected during the opening round of this year’s draft. As Pittsburgh’s top choice (No. 21 overall), expectations will be high regarding production during his rookie season. Harmon will have plenty of opportunities to make an impact.

When speaking about the Oregon product, defensive line coach Karl Dunbar confirmed (via Mike DeFabo of The Athletic) Harmon will begin the year as a defensive tackle starter. With no padded practices taking place until training camp, offensive and defensive linemen can often struggle to make an impact during spring practices. Given the Steelers’ depth beyond Cameron Heyward along the defensive interior, though, Harmon represents a logical candidate to handle a heavy workload right away in the NFL.

Heyward is entering his age-36 season and 2025 marks the final year of his current deal with guaranteed salary. Harmon – who led all FBS D-linemen in quarterback pressures during his standout senior campaign with the Ducks -will be tasked with establishing himself as a long-term stalwart along the interior especially once Heyward’s career ends. For at least one year, though, they will operate as a tandem.

Elsewhere on the Steelers’ roster, Beanie Bishop appears to be positioned for an uptick in usage. The 2024 UDFA saw notable playing time early in his rookie season, but his role shrank once veteran Cameron Sutton returned from suspension. As DeFabo notes, though, Bishop has moved toward a full-time position as Pittsburgh’s slot corner for this season. Joey Porter Jr. and free agent signing Darius Slay will be handle starting duties on the perimeter, and the team has made additions capable of playing in the slot. Bishop is aware of that competition as he prepares for training camp.

“At the end of the day, they still don’t have a lot of money invested in me,” Bishop said (via DeFabo). “They obviously drafted a guy [seventh-rounder Donte Kent] this year. Brought in [free agent Brandin Echols]. So I’m never just comfortable and like, ‘Oh yeah, this is my spot.’”

Bishop wound up logging a 50% defensive snap share last season, and a strong summer performance could pave the way for an ever larger figure in 2025. He and Harmon will each play a notable role in Pittsburgh’s efforts to rebound from an underwhelming finish to the campaign last year.

Aaron Rodgers Addresses Steelers Signing; Rams Showed Interest

June 11th, 2025 at 10:20pm CST by Adam La Rose

Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers were connected to one another well before a deal was actually signed. The future Hall of Famer will handle quarterback duties for 2025 after it remained unclear whether or not he would continue his career.

Rodgers was linked to a small number of potential landing spots while he contemplated retirement. Once Russell Wilson and Justin Fields departed in free agency, though, it became abundantly clear a commitment to the 41-year was a strong possibility for the Steelers. That held especially true with Matthew Stafford proving to be unavailable via trade.

“There was conversations with other organizations, for sure,” Rodgers said when speaking to the media following his first Pittsburgh practice (via Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio). “But, again, the rapport that fell in between me and [head coach] Mike [Tomlin] made it to where, as I was going through my personal stuff, there wasn’t any other option for me. It was here or not play.”

After Rodgers was released from the Jets, he spoke with both the Giants and Vikings. It was reported at one point during his free agency that Minnesota represented the 41-year-old’s preferred destination. Having seen Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones take starting gigs (or at least the chance of one, in the latter’s case), however, the Vikings are set for J.J. McCarthy to handle QB1 duties. New York, meanwhile, was leery of Rodgers’ age and injury history (including a 2023 Achilles tear) when contemplating a deal.

When speaking to the media, Rodgers confirmed (via Mark Maske of the Washington Post) he was in talks with the Vikings and Giants. He added the decision to play one more year was not “super clear-cut,” but ongoing conversations with Tomlin played a key role in his commitment to Pittsburgh. Team and player arranged for the signing to officially take place in time for mandatory minicamp, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer confirmed to little surprise during an appearance on the Rich Eisen Show (video link).

Interestingly, the Rams were also a possibility at one point in Rodgers’ case. When appearing on Good Morning Football Wednesday morning (video link), head coach Sean McVay said the longtime Packers star was the subject of conversations in the organization as a Stafford contingency plan. In the end, Stafford worked out another short-term arrangement which will keep him in Los Angeles, allowing the team to continue with its preferred starter.

Rodgers will carry a $14.15MM cap hit in 2025 as the Steelers look for their first postseason win since 2016. Incentives are present to add to the four-time MVP’s $13.65MM in base pay, but even at its maximum this Pittsburgh agreement falls well short of his previous contracts. Rodgers is certainly not lacking in career earnings, and with a Super Bowl to his name already he could have easily chosen to hang up his cleats. Instead, Rodgers will look to enjoy a brief third chapter in his NFL career.

“For my ego, I don’t need it to keep playing,” he added (via Maske). “A lot of decisions that I’ve made over my career and life from strictly the ego — even if they turn out well — are always unfulfilling. But the decisions made from the soul are usually pretty fulfilling… I felt like being here with Coach T. and the guys they got here and the opportunity here was best for me. I’m excited to be here.”

Aaron Rodgers’ Full Steelers Contract Details Revealed

June 11th, 2025 at 10:13am CST by Nikhil Mehta

Aaron Rodgers finally put pen to paper in Pittsburgh last week, signing a one-year deal for the lowest APY of his career since his rookie contract 20 years ago.

Rodgers’ pact with the Steelers has a base value of $13.65MM, comprised of a $3.65MM salary and a $10MM signing bonus that represents all of his guaranteed money, per OverTheCap. With incentives, he can reach $19.5MM, though he and the Steelers will have to reach some significant benchmarks to realize that maximum value.

The $5.85MM of incentives in Rodgers’ contract are all predicated on the 41-year-old quarterback playing at least 70% of the Steelers’ offensive snaps, per Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, a mark he easily eclipsed last year in New York. However, he cannot earn any extra money based on playtime alone, as the incentives are largely dependent on Pittsburgh’s performance in 2025.

Rodgers will earn $500K if the Steelers qualify for the postseason. That’s his only incentive that is considered ‘Likely To Be Earned’ as Pittsburgh made the playoffs last year and Rodgers played 97% of the Jets’ offensive snaps. LTBE incentives have to be accounted for on the salary cap, so Rodgers’ 2025 cap hit will be $14.15MM.

Neither Rodgers nor the Steelers fulfilled the rest of his incentives in 2024, so they are all considered ‘Not Likely To Be Earned’ and therefore do not count against the 2025 cap. He can receive an additional $600K if the Steelers advance to the second round of the playoffs via either a wild-card win or a first-round bye, and another $750K is available for a win in the divisional round. Rodgers can then earn $1MM for advancing to the Super Bowl and $1.5MM for a Super Bowl victory, though all of his playoff incentives require him to play at least 50% of each game’s snaps.

Rodgers will also receive $1.5MM if he wins a fifth MVP award that would tie him for the all-time lead with Peyton Manning. Since no NFL player has won MVP without making the playoffs in more than 50 years, Rodgers would likely earn upwards of $2MM if he manages to take home the hardware.

The Steelers have been a playoff mainstay under Mike Tomlin, and Rodgers is likely their best starting quarterback in years. However, Pittsburgh hasn’t won a playoff game since 2016, making it no certainty that Rodgers can reach the maximum value of his contract.

Steelers’ T.J. Watt Not Present At Minicamp

June 10th, 2025 at 3:39pm CST by Sam Robinson

When T.J. Watt‘s previous contract year arrived, he reported to Steelers minicamp and staged a training camp hold-in. This preceded a monster extension agreed upon days before the 2021 season. This time around, the future Hall of Fame edge rusher is taking a different route.

Watt did not show for the first day of Steelers minicamp, ESPN.com’s Brooke Pryor notes. This came after The Athletic’s Dianna Russini indicated the former Defensive Player of the Year was not expected to report for the mandatory set of workouts. Missing all three days will cost Watt just more than $104K; he made $21.1MM in base salary last season.

Minicamp absences have ticked up in recent years, and Watt will opt to make a point rather than take the hold-in route. Considering his importance to the Steelers’ mission — one that now officially includes a 41-year-old quarterback — Watt holding out at training camp would apply some pressure on the Steelers, who regularly use the late-summer camp period to hammer out extensions with the players they deem priorities. Watt is obviously one, as the Aaron Rodgers signing moves the OLB’s contract to the top of that list.

This is not viewed as a particularly contentious situation, though Watt’s minicamp absence is certainly not ideal for the AFC North team. Going into his ninth year with the Steelers, Watt has established himself as one of the most important defenders in modern NFL history. The Steelers are 1-10 without Watt in the lineup. Fortunately for Pittsburgh’s annual tightrope walk to playoff contention, the superstar pass rusher played in every game over the past two years.

Watt’s potential holdout comes amid a transformation for the edge rusher market. Maxx Crosby, Myles Garrett and Danielle Hunter moved the market past $35MM per year. Garrett secured a $40MM-per-year accord. He and Watt’s careers having traversed parallel paths, save for a rather notable suspension handed to the Browns’ premier rusher, points to Watt wanting to reach that price range as well. Watt, though, is more than a year older than Garrett; he will turn 31 in October. Micah Parsons will also be interested in where Watt’s third contract comes in, as he can use his age (26) to leverage the Cowboys into making him the NFL’s highest-paid defender. Aidan Hutchinson‘s camp will be closely monitoring the Pittsburgh proceedings as well, but one of these players obviously will need to go first this summer.

The Steelers’ $28MM-per-year Watt extension stood as the league’s top EDGE deal for two years, before Nick Bosa‘s $34MM-AAV re-up moved the market. It took until this offseason for Bosa’s 49ers deal to be topped, but less accomplished edge performers Brian Burns and Josh Hines-Allen also topped Watt’s AAV in 2024. It is not known if the Steelers have submitted an offer in the Garrett range; based on Watt skipping OTAs and now Day 1 of minicamp, it would be safe to bet that has not happened. This deal may well end up costing more than the Steelers expected.

Steelers GM Omar Khan naturally wants Watt to finish his career in Pittsburgh, and another deal before a contract year commences will be expected (as the Steelers do not negotiate in-season). While it would be unexpected that this Watt saga drags to the 2026 franchise tag deadline, that would be a weapon the Steelers can use if no common ground can be reached by Week 1.

Steelers Preferred Matthew Stafford, Justin Fields To Aaron Rodgers?

June 9th, 2025 at 10:10pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Steelers have Aaron Rodgers under contract in time for minicamp, meaning the team will have its expected quarterback starter for 2025. Other options received consideration this offseason, though, and it appears at least two of them were higher on Pittsburgh’s wishlist.

During an appearance on Get Up, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Rodgers represented the Steelers’ third choice at the quarterback spot (video link). Schefter notes Pittsburgh first attempted to work out a trade with the Rams for Matthew Stafford this offseason. The Super Bowl winner wound up remaining in Los Angeles on another revised contract, but a number of suitors showed interest in a trade before that agreement was reached.

The Steelers were among them, with a February report linking them to Stafford. Pittsburgh checked in with the Rams on that front, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated writes, but the team doubted a departure from Los Angles was realistic. Likewise, interest was shown in Kirk Cousins, but at no point was he regarded as a preferred option to Rodgers.

Per Schefter and Breer, the Steelers’ efforts were aimed first at re-signing Justin Fields before serious Rodgers consideration took place. Pittsburgh was well known to have interest in keeping one of Fields or 2024 starter Russell Wilson for the coming season. The Jets – having released Rodgers with the arrival of a new HC-GM combination – provided Fields with an unquestioned starter’s role on a two-year pact, however. Once he agreed to head to New York, Rodgers became one of the best veteran options on the market.

The 41-year-old visited the Steelers early in free agency, and he and head coach Mike Tomlin remained in touch throughout the spring. As Breer notes, that communication played a key role in Pittsburgh’s ongoing confidence that a deal would eventually be worked out. He adds much of the legwork regarding the contract details have been in place since March, leaving only certain aspects of its structure to be finalized recently.

Rodgers will receive $10MM in guarantees and $5.85MM in incentives could increase his earnings for the campaign. The four-time MVP’s pact stands in contrast to what Fields received from the Jets ($40MM over two years, including $30MM fully guaranteed) and Stafford’s new Rams arrangement ($84MM across the 2025 and ’26 seasons, up from the $58MM he was originally owed). At a discounted price compared to the top of the position’s market in particular, it will be interesting to see how Rodgers fares with his third career team.

Stafford declined to join teams such as the Raiders and Giants despite their willingness to reach the $50MM-per-year mark. Fields, meanwhile, understandably departed on the open market after Tomlin elected to keep Wilson ahead of him on the depth chart once both passers were healthy last season. It took until well after the draft and through much of OTAs for the Rodgers acquisition to become official, but Pittsburgh’s apparent Plan C under center is now set to take shape.

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