Former NY Jets GM delivers brutal Aaron Rodgers reality check to Steelers

Aaron Rodgers is still weighing his options for the 2025 NFL season, and with the draft just days away, time is running out. The future Hall of Famer made an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show this week, but rather than provide clarity on his future plans, he used the spotlight to take aim at his former team, the New York Jets.

Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Steelers remain the only realistic landing spot if Rodgers decides to continue his NFL career, but the team is still stuck in waiting mode. His appearance on McAfee's show didn't provide any further clarity on his NFL future.

Without a clear answer from Rodgers, the Steelers are being held hostage at a crucial point in their offseason, especially with the 2025 NFL Draft approaching later this week. Former Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum is among those who have seen enough.

Speaking on ESPN’s First Take on Friday, the ex-GM issued a blunt message to both Rodgers and the Steelers, urging the team to move on from the indecisive quarterback and calling the situation for what it is.

"Coach [Bill] Parcells used to say, ‘When a player is talking about being retired, they are.’ And if you want a winning, front-line quarterback staying the rigors of a 17-game regular season, you want somebody who’s in Pittsburgh right now in the offseason program, getting to know DK Metcalf, George Pickens, Pat Freiermuth. It's over guys... 'We want volunteers, not hostages.' This is a guy that's disinterested in being an NFL quarterback... It's over."

Mike Tannenbaum

The NY Jets are glad to be out of the Aaron Rodgers vortex

The Jets made the difficult but necessary decision to move on from Rodgers earlier this offseason, handing the keys to newly acquired quarterback Justin Fields.

While Fields is far from a sure thing, he offers youth, mobility, and untapped potential, all traits that made him an intriguing upside play in a lackluster quarterback market. The Jets didn’t have to love Fields to recognize that he was the best available option given the circumstances.

Rodgers, on the other hand, continues to drag his feet. His recent appearance on The Pat McAfee Show did little to inspire confidence in his future, and even less to suggest he’s fully committed to playing in 2025.

Instead, his segment was headlined by a bitter rant about his exit from New York, one that included shots at the new coaching staff and a characteristic lack of accountability.

For the Jets, every day that passes only reinforces that they made the correct decision. They opted to reset their quarterback room rather than wait around for Rodgers to make up his mind — a choice that now looks more like a long-overdue pivot than a controversial breakup.

While the Steelers sit in quarterback limbo, waiting on a decision from a 41-year-old whose best days are clearly behind him, the Jets have turned the page.

It’s not clear whether Fields will be the answer, but at least they’re building toward something. Rodgers might still believe he holds the cards, but the Jets have already played theirs — and they’re better for it.

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