Steelers already dealing with the Aaron Rodgers headache the NY Jets know well

The New York Jets know all too well how exhausting it can be to deal with Aaron Rodgers. Before he even arrived in New York, Rodgers made the team wait months while he debated his future, only emerging from a darkness retreat to finally choose the Jets.

Once he got there, the distractions didn’t stop. Whether it was his constant media battles, controversial comments about teammates, or off-field controversies, Rodgers was always at the center of attention. Now, it seems the Pittsburgh Steelers are getting their first taste of the same headache the Jets dealt with for two years.

Longtime Steelers defensive lineman Cameron Heyward made an appearance on the "Not Just Football" podcast on Tuesday and made it clear where he stands on Rodgers, who has been heavily connected to Pittsburgh in recent weeks.

Heyward isn't looking to wait around as long as the Jets did last season. He's "not doing that darkness retreat" — he wants an answer now.

"I ain't doing that darkness retreat. I don't need any of that crap. Either you want to be a Pittsburgh Steeler or you don't. It's that simple. That's the pitch. If you want me to recruit, that's the recruiting pitch. Pittsburgh Steelers. If you want to be part of it, so be it. If you don't, no skin off my back."

Cameron Heyward

Cameron Heyward sends blunt message to Aaron Rodgers about his Steelers future

Rodgers' future has once again dominated headlines this offseason. The Jets made the decision to release the four-time MVP last month following a disappointing two-year stretch that saw him win just five games (technically six) as a starter.

A torn Achilles negated Rodgers' first season with the Jets, and upon his return in 2024, he looked like a shell of his former self. There were still some positive moments, but Rodgers undoubtedly put together the worst season of his storied career.

Despite this, there are a number of teams interested in Rodgers this offseason. The Steelers have pivoted to the future Hall of Famer after missing out on Justin Fields while the New York Giants are desperate for a quarterback after failing to land Matthew Stafford.

Rodgers reportedly also has significant interest in joining the Minnesota Vikings, but rumors suggest that interest may be one-sided. It's likely Rodgers will be forced to choose between the Steelers and the Giants.

Rodgers is predictably taking his sweet time with the decision. We're over a week into free agency and there's been no indication of where he intends to play in 2025. The Steelers and Giants are essentially in a holding pattern.

Both teams are looking at alternative options in case Rodgers decides to go elsewhere. Russell Wilson remains in play for both franchises while the Giants also met with Jameis Winston on Tuesday.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported this week that Rodgers could wait until the week of the 2025 NFL Draft — over a month from now — to make a decision. If that happens, he’ll essentially be holding two organizations hostage in the process.

Heyward and the Steelers don’t seem eager to wait around, but beggars can’t be choosers. With Aaron Rodgers still the top quarterback on the market, both the Steelers and Giants have little choice but to wait for him to make up his mind.

More NY Jets news and analysis: