It didn’t take long for the Aaron Rodgers honeymoon in Pittsburgh to hit the same turbulence Jets fans know all too well. In fact, Steelers players already seem to be sick of Rodgers, and he hasn't even shown up yet.
NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported on a recent episode of The Rich Eisen Show that members of the Steelers locker room are “already over this thing" in regard to Rodgers. That's a telling phrase that feels ripped straight out of Florham Park circa 2024.
Rodgers, who still hasn’t publicly decided whether he’ll play football in 2025, continues to keep the Steelers in limbo as they await a decision. In the meantime, Pittsburgh’s quarterback room remains a holding pattern of Mason Rudolph, sixth-round rookie Will Howard, and former Dolphins backup Skylar Thompson.
The expectation remains that Rodgers will eventually sign there if he returns, but the wait is clearly wearing thin. The drama feels familiar for Jets fans, who went through a similar song and dance with the future Hall of Famer before he joined the team in 2023.
"There are people in that locker room who I believe would tell you they’re already over this thing. They just wanna know what’s going on. And they’re sick of hearing about it, and they’re sick of being asked about it. They don’t want to discuss it anymore."Tom Pelissero
Aaron Rodgers fatigue reportedly hitting Steelers just like it did the NY Jets
This is the part of the Aaron Rodgers timeline Jets fans know all too well. The silence. The waiting. The mounting frustration behind the scenes while the rest of the locker room tries to focus on football. And now, Steelers players are reportedly feeling the exact same thing.
Some players are already tired of the drama, tired of being asked about Rodgers, and tired of not knowing whether he’ll ever actually walk through the door. It’s the same cycle that played out in New York, only it's happened much quicker this time.
The Jets, of course, made their decision months ago. New head coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey chose to move on from Rodgers this offseason and pivot to a new era with Justin Fields.
It wasn’t a universally popular move inside the building — Rodgers still had supporters in the locker room who were upset by the decision — but it was the kind of clean break the franchise needed. The more time that passes, the clearer that becomes.
Fields was given a two-year, $40 million contract and a real opportunity to be a full-time starter. There’s structure, stability, and an actual plan at quarterback, three things Pittsburgh doesn’t have right now.
While the Steelers wait, they’re stuck with an uninspiring depth chart and no real answers. Rodgers may still bring a Hall of Fame reputation, but right now, all he’s bringing is questions.
The Jets know the feeling. They just don’t miss it.