Pittsburgh Steelers owner Art Rooney II does not have unlimited patience for the team’s pursuit of free-agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Speaking with reporters at the ongoing NFL meetings in Palm Beach, Florida, the grandson and namesake of the Steelers’ founder did say there are some ‘positive signs’ from Rodgers’ camp.
‘We keep hearing that he’s, I guess, headed in our direction, and so that seems to be all signs are positive so far,’ Rooney said, as quoted by ESPN’s Brooke Pryor.
However, when asked how long the Steelers are prepared to wait on the 41-year-old former MVP, Rooney made it clear the clock is ticking.
‘Not forever, but a little while longer,’ Rooney said, adding he ‘didn’t envision it taking this long.’
After meeting with the team in March, Rodgers did hook up with the Steelers’ newly acquired star receiver DK Metcalf for a workout on the UCLA campus last weekend, as revealed by pH๏τographer and videographer Alex Amen.
Aaron Rodgers, now 41, is coming off two unfortunate seasons with the New York jets
Steelers owner Art Rooney II does not have unlimited patience for Rodgers in free agency
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Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin is staying in touch with Rodgers, but says he is comfortable with Mason Rudolph as the starting quarterback in Pittsburgh.
‘That’s why we brought him back,’ Tomlin said Monday at the league’s annual meetings. ‘I’m comfortable with that. And we’ve been there before.’
Rudolph was 3-1 for the Steelers in 2023 with the loss coming in a wild-card game against Buffalo. Pittsburgh has a new offensive coordinator since Rudolph last played for the team. The offense had mixed results under Arthur Smith last season.
‘Mason is not a kid. He’s been around, been in multiple systems and situations,’ Tomlin said.
Meanwhile, is Tomlin communicating with Rodgers by calling, texting or FaceTiming the four-time NFL MVP?
‘All of the above,’ Tomlin said.
Tomlin, who spoke to Pittsburgh reporters a day earlier, addressed a large group of media members surrounding his table during a 30-minute availability for all AFC coaches.
‘He’s a free agent,’ Tomlin said of Rodgers. ‘As you guys know, he came to visit last Friday. We had a really productive day. He’s been in this thing a long time. I’ve been in this thing a long time. But it’s no subsтιтute for, you know, intimacy and spending time together and getting to know one another in a non-compeтιтive environment. And so that was really good. But I don’t have any new updates in terms of where the process is. We’ll see where it leads us.’
Asked if the uncertainty surrounding the team’s quarterback situation is unsettling, Tomlin replied: ‘I’m really comfortable with being unstuck at this time of year, to be quite honest with you.’
The Steelers allowed Russell Wilson (Giants) and Justin Fields (Jets) to leave in free agency and brought back Rudolph. Pittsburgh hasn’t won a playoff game since reaching the AFC тιтle game following the 2016 season.
The Steelers hold the 21st overall pick in the draft next month. Mississippi quarterback Jaxson Dart is a possibility whether the 41-year-old Rodgers signs with the team or not.
The receiver, seen fiancée Normani, signed the largest deal in the history of the Steelers
Video of Aaron Rodgers throwing to DK Metcalf at UCLA via Amen.Culture on IG #Steelers #NFL pic.twitter.com/ZvHIVOtw1X
— Steelers Depot 7⃣ (@Steelersdepot) March 31, 2025
Jaxson Dart sets up to pᴀss during an offensive drill at the school’s NFL football pro day
‘It doesn’t appear to be devoid of talent,’ Tomlin said of the draft class, which features Miami’s Cam Ward and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders. ‘I like a lot of the guys that I’ve met. Not only their tangible qualities, but their intangible qualities. And so, I’m feeling really good about the trajectory of the group.’
After leading the Rebels to a 10-3 season and a 52-20 win over Duke in the Gator Bowl, Dart continued to impress scouts at both the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis and this month’s pro day in Oxford.
A product of the Manning Pᴀssing Academy, Dart was easily the biggest standout while completing 18 of 23 pᴀsses as his receivers dropped a few catchable balls in Indianapolis. Not only did he show off a strong, accurate arm, but also threw the prettiest ball of anyone at the Combine.
He was once seen as a likely third-round pick, but Dart is now being viewed as a late-first or early second-round option for some quarterback-hungry teams.
Rodgers is a free agent for the first time in his 20-year career. He could be contemplating retirement, signing with the Steelers or waiting for the Minnesota Vikings to express interest. The Vikings seem to ready to go with J.J. McCarthy.
‘There is no drop ᴅᴇᴀᴅ date specifically in my mind, no,’ Tomlin said about waiting for a decision.
