What’s the holdup between Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers? Ross Tucker and Dave Dameshek dig into the fit, the timeline and the quarterback carousel in Pittsburgh on the latest episode of the Ross Tucker Football Podcast.
The two most prominent stories dominating the NFL offseason are the potential banning of the tush push and what team Aaron Rodgers will join next. Dameshek expressed that while the brand name Aaron Rodgers is grand, in his last 25 games, he has turned the ball over 34 times and he’s 42. Not to mention the fact that Rodgers is a bit of a weirdo, and as Dameshek noted, not in the Tom Brady kind of way. Dameshek added that Brady could chug a beer faster than anyone, but on the other hand, he’s also known to drink avocado shakes to prepare for the season. That’s not Rodgers’ identity. Dameshek doesn’t believe Rodgers has that same level of commitment. Further, Dameshek pointed out that while a few quarterbacks have played into their 40s, including Brady, Warren Moon, and even Brett Favre’s brief stint with the Vikings, there have been few successful QBs in their 40s. Dameshek is baffled by the idea that Rodgers will be the exception, especially given what we saw from him during his time with the Jets. Dameshek explained that in a quarterback-driven league where every team is evaluating quarterbacks on the open market, 30 teams made it clear that they don’t want Rodgers.
“The brand name Aaron Rodgers is grand…but in his last 25 games, he's turned the ball over 34 times, he's 42 years of age, and he's a weirdo but not the same type of weirdo as Tom Brady…”@Dameshek on what Aaron Rodgers is at this stage in his career: https://t.co/sJV5qDMxnv pic.twitter.com/rxy4P5AVIw
— Ross Tucker Podcast (@RossTuckerPod) April 3, 2025
Tucker noted that top quarterbacks — like Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Favre and Rodgers — who were surefire first-ballot Hall of Famers, suddenly dropped from top-five status to below-average seemingly overnight. Though we were not allowed to identify the obvious, given they were suitable for several years, the decline of players like Manning and Brees was apparent. Tucker stressed that both Manning and Brees could barely throw a ball toward the end of their careers. To his point, Tucker references his interview with Shaun King, who shared that Rodgers’ athleticism has fallen off a cliff. That doesn’t bode well, considering athleticism used to be central to Rodgers’ game. On the flip side, for Brady, that was never his game, yet his arm stood the test of time.
So it begs the question, why hasn’t Rodgers signed with the Steelers? Tucker offers possible reasons like potentially wanting more money, waiting to see if other teams double back and change their minds, waiting post-draft or even ego. Tucker added that regardless of the reason, the longer this drags out, the worse it looks for the Steelers. Dameshek agrees that this does not make the Steelers look good and believes Art Rooney II would acknowledge that this ordeal is “un-Steelery.” Further, he offers an additional reason that Rodgers thinks the Vikings are still in play, and if Kevin O’Connell believes Rodgers is the guy for the Vikings, they would want to get him out on the field in the spring to evaluate him. Barring Minnesota knowing whether J.J. McCarthy is ready to take over, Rodgers would be a good player to fall back on if the Vikings find themselves in need of a steady hand at QB. Dameshek says it is embarrassing for the Steelers to be the fallback option for Rodgers if things don’t work out with the Vikings. Dameshek also wondered if perhaps Rodgers may be holding out to make his announcement on The Pat McAfee Show. With McAfee having ties to Pittsburgh, it would be a good publicity opportunity for his show if he announced that perhaps his most notable regular guest will be playing for his hometown team.
What might be great for McAfee, Dameshek believes, could be a nightmare for Steelers fans. He shared with Tucker that, in passing, he has thrown out the idea of the Steelers signing Rodgers. There is this disdain for him being a part of the team, especially after they have watched a hero like Russell Wilson play a mercenary. Ultimately, Dameshek likens the Rodgers-Steelers connection to The Expendables — with Mike Tomlin as Sylvester Stallone, trying to revive an aging cast for one more shot. Dameshek questions if a Rodgers-Steelers pairing will equate to winning a Super Bowl?
In the end, Dameshek predicts that during next Wednesday’s live Pat McAfee Show in Pittsburgh, they’ll announce Rodgers is signing with the Steelers, as he believes the deal is done and it is a matter of being announced.
Check out Ross’ full conversation with Dameshek in the full video or podcast below. And make sure to tune into the Ross Tucker Podcast on DraftKings Network! See more about how to watch DraftKings Network here.
SHOW BREAKDOWN
Dave Dameshek: What’s taking Aaron Rodgers so long?
Ross is joined by Dave Dameshek to discuss the latest with Aaron Rodgers, his potential fit with the Pittsburgh Steelers, what to expect from him in 2025, and the recent history of the Steelers’ quarterback room!
Be sure to stick around until the end for the extended version of Ross’ interview with Dameshek!
VIDEO:
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