The Pittsburgh Steelers aren’t giving Aaron Rodgers an ultimatum.
Head coach Mike Tomlin said there is “no drop-dead date” for the former Jets quarterback to make a decision about signing with Pittsburgh as his prolonged free agency continues.
“He came to visit last Friday and we had a really productive day,” Tomlin said Monday at the NFL owners meetings in Palm Beach, Fla.
“He’s been in this thing a long time. I’ve been in this thing a long time. But there’s no substitute for intimacy and spending time together and getting to know one another in a non-competitive environment.”
Over the weekend, Rodgers threw to Steelers wide receiver D.K. Metcalf during a workout at UCLA, according to NFL Network.
Rodgers, 41, is considering his future after the Jets released him on March 12 following a disappointing two-year tenure.
The Steelers, who went 10-7 with Russell Wilson and Justin Fields at quarterback last season, appear to be Rodgers’ best option to play for a contender. Fields signed with the Jets this offseason, while Wilson joined the Giants.
Mason Rudolph, a former third-round pick who spent his first four seasons with Pittsburgh, recently re-signed with the Steelers on a two-year, $8 million contract after one year in Tennessee.
Rudolph is currently atop the Steelers’ quarterback depth chart.
“I’m really comfortable with being unsettled this time of year,” Tomlin said.
“It’s about talent acquisition. We’ve got two main means of acquiring talent: free agency and the draft. We multitask. We do both. … I’ve just learned over the years that this time of year, although day-to-day it can be somewhat uncomfortable, it is a process.”
The Steelers hold the No. 21 overall pick in a draft that is considered weak at quarterback.
Rodgers completed 63% of his passes for 3,897 yards, 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions last season, but the Jets went 5-12. That came after Rodgers missed all but four offensive snaps in his first year with the Jets due to a season-ending Achilles tear.
The Minnesota Vikings considered Rodgers before deciding to move forward with second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy, according to ESPN, while the Giants also showed interest before signing Wilson and Jameis Winston.
Should he sign with the Steelers or anyone else, Rodgers would be returning for a 21st NFL season. He spent his first 18 years with the Green Bay Packers, with whom he won Super Bowl XLV after the 2010 season.
Rudolph, 29, is 9-8-1 as a starter, though he led the Steelers to victories in their final three games of the 2023 season to help them get to the playoffs.
“The way he smiled in the face of adversity and delivered for us was significant, but not that I was shocked by it or didn’t think it was within his framework or capabilities,” Tomlin said Monday. “We’re excited about having him back.”
