Steelers Now
The Pittsburgh Steelers have been waiting on a decision from Aaron Rodgers for over two months, and according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the four-time league MVP quarterback hasn’t made a verbal commitment to the organization.
“I have been told that he has not affirmatively told the Steelers that he’s coming,” Pelissero said during an appearance on the Rich Eisen Show on Friday. “… There’s all these signs that he’s coming but he has not affirmatively said ‘Hey, June 9 book me the ticket. I’m coming in and I’m going to join this team.’ That has not happened as of this point.”
All signs point to Aaron Rodgers eventually signing with the Steelers, as the 41-year-old QB dropped a major hint earlier this month.
During a concert on May 17 in Austin, Texas with his friend and artist, Mike Stud, Rodgers held a Q&A with the crowd.
At one point during the session, a girl asked him if he would ever play for the Chicago Bears. Rodgers replied, “No. But I believe there is a team that might play in Chicago this year, a road trip to Chicago. I love Chicago, though, way more than they love me. It’s been a great relationship all one way.”
The Steelers play the Bears in Week 12 at Soldier Field. The Minnesota Vikings and New Orleans Saints also both play at Chicago this season, but they’re not considered clear-cut favorites to land Rodgers like the Steelers.
Rodgers was later asked if he would sign with the Steelers, and he gave a rather ambiguous answer.
“You never know,” Rodgers said.
Rodgers appears to be in no rush, as he spent over three hours on Joe Rogan’s podcast last week. The two discussed a wide-range of topics, but nothing football-related.
Rodgers revealed a possible reason for his delay.
“I’ve figured it out the last year when I’ve been in the weeds with these people who are close to me that have cancer,” Rodgers said on the Joe Rogan Experience Podcast.
That lines up with what the 41-year-old said on the Pat McAfee Show in April.
“I have off-the-field stuff going on that requires my attention,” he said. “I have personal commitments I have made. I have a couple of people in my inner, inner circle who are battling some difficult stuff. So, I have a lot of things that are taking my attention.”
Steelers president Art Rooney II said at the NFL owners meetings in March that the team will “not wait forever” on Rodgers. Over two months have passed, and Rodgers has still not signed with the Steelers.
Rooney’s stance hasn’t changed. He’s wiling to wait things out.
“A little while longer. I’ll say the same thing,” Rooney said on his way out of last week’s owners meetings, via Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Insider: Aaron Rodgers ‘Has Not Affirmatively Told’ Steelers He’ll Sign Contract
