Aaron Rodgers just got ruled out by the only (other) team that made sense

Aaron Rodgers may not be ready to retire just yet, but one of his few remaining potential landing spots reportedly isn’t interested. In the wake of Derek Carr’s surprise retirement, the New Orleans Saints suddenly became a trendy destination for Rodgers to extend his NFL career.

Instead, the Saints have no plans to pursue the former Jets quarterback, and that feels pretty telling. According to Saints insider Jeff Duncan, New Orleans has already ruled out Rodgers as a post-Carr option.

And while this news may not come as a total shock, it does reaffirm the idea that Rodgers’ NFL future is hanging by a thread. The Saints don’t have a proven quarterback on their roster — they’re currently rolling with a trio of mid-round draft picks — and still decided Rodgers wasn’t worth the baggage.

This report comes just months after the Jets released Rodgers ahead of free agency, ending a disappointing and drama-filled tenure after two underwhelming seasons.

The Saints have no interest in signing Aaron Rodgers

Rodgers was supposed to be the missing piece in New York. Instead, his Achilles tear in 2023 derailed the plan before it ever began. He returned in 2024 and started all 17 games, but played poorly and failed to justify the $35 million option bonus looming in his contract.

The Jets decided to cut ties in February, paving the way for Justin Fields and a new era under head coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey. With each passing week of silence from Rodgers, it’s looking more and more like the Jets made the right call.

The Saints’ quarterback room is about as uncertain as it gets. With Carr walking away from football due to persistent shoulder issues, New Orleans is left with 2025 second-round pick Tyler Shough, 2024 fifth-rounder Spencer Rattler, and 2023 fourth-round pick Jake Haener. That trio has a combined seven NFL starts between them.

Rodgers, who turns 42 in December, is no longer the surefire upgrade he once was. While his name still carries weight, his 2024 performance with the Jets fell well short of expectations.

Despite his gaudy box score numbers, he finished near the bottom of the league in advanced metrics like completion percentage, EPA per play, and success rate. Add in the off-field distractions, and it’s easy to see why New Orleans opted to stay away.

That leaves the Pittsburgh Steelers as the only realistic destination if Rodgers does decide to return in 2025. Pittsburgh has been consistently linked to the four-time MVP, and they remain the lone team that makes any real sense.

But the longer Rodgers waits to make a decision — and the more teams pass on even entertaining the idea — the more uncertain his future becomes.

The Steelers appear to be Rodgers' last real shot if he wants to continue playing football. The Jets moved on. The Saints aren’t biting. And every other door seems to have quietly closed. If Rodgers doesn’t land in Pittsburgh, retirement might be all that’s left for the future Hall of Famer.

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