There he was, standing barefoot on a beach, blanket draped over his shoulders, backwards hat on his head, headphones in his ears.
Aaron Rodgers appeared deep in thought when photographed Wednesday — images published by the Daily Mail that instantly became meme fodder.
But really, what is he waiting for, as he chooses between the Steelers and Giants? Because the correct, logical decision is obvious: Sign with Pittsburgh.
Rodgers — a future Hall of Fame quarterback and current Jets castoff — would be foolish to pick the Giants over the Steelers, presuming the money is mostly equal.
Even if it’s not, who cares? Rodgers — who, at 41, can still play — has made $380 million on the field during his career (plus millions more off it). If the Giants make a better financial offer than Pittsburgh, that should not be a huge factor.
At this point in Rodgers’ career, you’d think his goal would be simple: Join a team that gives him the best shot at starting and winning a second Super Bowl ring. That’s the whole point, right? Otherwise, why continue playing?
Rodgers hasn’t even been to the playoffs since 2021. Why not sign with the team that maximizes his chances of getting back there? It’s not that complicated.
Between the Giants and Steelers, it’s clear Pittsburgh is better positioned to reach the postseason in 2025. Last season, as the Giants spiraled to 3-14, the Steelers went 10-7 and made the playoffs for the fourth time in five years.
(By the way, the Vikings — another legit contender — loom as a possibility for Rodgers, though he’d have to deal with the presence of J.J. McCarthy, last year’s No. 10 overall pick.)
Yet even with Rodgers pondering a seemingly obvious decision, here the NFL world is again, waiting on him — just like two years ago, when he finally decided he wanted to continue playing (and wanted the Packers to trade him to the Jets).
We all know how that dysfunctional debacle turned out. Still, Rodgers isn’t toast just yet. He has something left, as he showed last season, even though the Jets finished 5-12. So yeah, it makes sense why the Giants would want him, even as they prepare to draft a quarterback at No. 3 (or higher) on April 24.
The Joe Schoen/Brian Daboll regime needs to win — and win now. Rodgers would be able to deliver some wins (at least more than, say, three) to the Giants.
But why in the world would Rodgers want them? Does he think he’s going to stick it to Woody Johnson by winning seven or eight games with the Giants and saving the Schoen/Daboll regime (for now), while missing the playoffs?
No matter how you look at it, the Steelers are a superior option to the Giants for Rodgers.
Pittsburgh’s offensive line wasn’t great last year, but it is better than the Giants’ group, even with Andrew Thomas healthy. And remember, the Jets’ problematic offensive line — plus Rodgers’ immobility at this late stage of his career — contributed to him getting hurt last year and having to battle through those injuries.
It’s not just that the Steelers’ overall roster surpasses what the Giants offer. (Yes, the Giants have Malik Nabers, but D.K. Metcalf is no slouch.) It’s also this: The Steelers have more regime stability, with Omar Khan and Mike Tomlin. Barring a disaster, it’s hard to imagine the Steelers firing Tomlin after 2025. Meanwhile, Schoen and Daboll are entering a last-chance Year 4 this season. Both could soon be gone.
And what then for Rodgers? Sure, the Giants might make a two-year commitment to him this offseason. But that’ll mean little to nothing if Schoen and Daboll get canned and their replacements don’t want Rodgers back in 2026, even if he wants to stay. (This is the exact situation Rodgers just ran into with the Jets this offseason.)
Oh, and don’t forget that the Steelers, who pick 21st this year, surely won’t draft a quarterback — while the Giants likely will. Giants fans have no loyalty to Rodgers. The moment he starts struggling, they’ll call for the rookie to replace him. In Pittsburgh, Rodgers won’t have to worry about that. It’ll be his job.
Ultimately, while Rodgers makes sense for the Giants — presuming he is willing to mentor the new kid quarterback — they make little sense for him.
Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription.
Darryl Slater may be reached at [email protected].
