Steelers Take a Patient Approach to Quarterback Decisions, No Deadline Set for Rodgers Signing Amid Free Agency

March 31, 2025 – Free agency often moves quickly, but around three weeks into the new league year, the Steelers are in no rush to make decisions about their quarterback situation. When asked on Sunday, March 30, at the Annual League Meeting if there was an internal deadline to decide on signing or passing on Aaron Rodgers, who visited the team on March 21, head coach Mike Tomlin stated there isn't one.

"Not to my knowledge," Tomlin said, according to ESPN. "I don't know that we've approached it from a deadline perspective. Certainly, as I mentioned, you'd like to have settled circumstances, but deadlines don't often bring that to a head."

So far this offseason, the Steelers have watched as their starting quarterbacks from last season, Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, found new homes. Wilson signed with the Giants, who had also considered Rodgers, while Fields joined the Jets, Rodgers' former team. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh re-signed Mason Rudolph after his year away in Tennessee and currently has only one other quarterback on the roster, Skylar Thompson.

As Rodgers' options appear to dwindle, the Steelers’ plans are less defined, but Tomlin didn’t press Rodgers for a timeline during their meeting. Instead, he took the opportunity to get to know the veteran quarterback more personally.

"It’s been reported that he spent a day with us, and it was a really good day," Tomlin said. "Specifically, he and I obviously have known each other for some time, and so it was really good to spend some time together and get to know each other more intimately, but it is free agency. It is a process."

Tomlin continued, "I really wanted to spend more of our time just getting to know him better and understanding what he values as a player and a person, and what he might be looking for in his next stop." But what if Rodgers’ next stop isn’t with Pittsburgh?

The Steelers don’t seem to have a rigid plan in place. Tomlin mentioned they will "continue to explore all our options in terms of rounding that room out." He added, "I don't know if we are identifying anything as Plan A, Plan B, or Plan C. We're just simply looking at the field of available people, whether it's free agency or the draft, and making decisions and gathering information accordingly."

When it comes to the draft, the Steelers hold the 21st overall pick. While this may not be ideal for landing top quarterbacks like Shedeur Sanders or Cam Ward, Pittsburgh does have the chance to select a solid prospect. With their second-round pick belonging to the Seattle Seahawks due to the DK Metcalf trade, the Steelers will likely focus on available talent. Some mock drafts suggest players like Jaxson Dart from Ole Miss could be available when Pittsburgh picks.

This doesn’t rule out the possibility of the Steelers signing Rodgers. At 41, he could help the team overcome the wild-card hurdles they’ve struggled with in recent seasons while also offering mentorship. Having a first-round QB on the roster would provide flexibility with their deadline.

Regardless of which route the Steelers take, Tomlin has earned the confidence that he will lead the team effectively. Over his 18-year tenure, the Steelers have never had a losing season, and the current roster is set up to keep winning once the quarterback situation is finalized—whenever that may be.