The Pittsburgh Steelers have gone all in on Aaron Rodgers after failing to re-sign Justin Fields. However, Rodgers has yet to decide on his future and is believed to be mulling over options between the Steelers, New York Giants, and the Minnesota Vikings, as well as potential retirement.
To further complicate things for the Steelers, it was recently reported that Rodgers could take weeks to finalize his decision. This news fired up former NFL general manager Doug Whaley, who accused the veteran of holding Pittsburgh hostage.
Doug Whaley Accuses Aaron Rodgers of Holding Steelers Hostage
Whaley spoke on 93.7 The Fan in Pittsburgh and urged the Steelers not to sign Rodgers.
“If I’m Omar Khan, and I’m the Pittsburgh Steelers, one, you shouldn’t be surprised. And two, you have to sit down and think, do we want to sign up for this? Because he’s setting the table and the precedent early.
“It’s all about Aaron Rodgers. And it has nothing to do with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He’s gonna hold the whole franchise hostage on waiting for him to make a decision,” Whaley said.
On 93.7 the Fan, Former GM Doug Whaley says Aaron Rodgers is holding the Steelers hostage: “Aaron Rodgers is holding the entire Steelers organization hostage.” #Steelers #NFL
— Steelers Depot 7⃣ (@Steelersdepot) March 12, 2025
This isn’t the first time Rodgers has taken time to decide his future. He previously went on a darkness retreat in 2023 to reflect on his career, as well as a similar hiatus while with Green Bay.
Rodgers turns 42 in December and is entering his 21st season in the NFL. This will be his second season removed from the torn Achilles he suffered in the opening week of the 2023 season.
Pittsburgh is one of the top suitors for Rodgers after acquiring DK Metcalf for a second-round pick from the Seattle Seahawks. With Metcalf and George Pickens out wide, along with one of the NFL’s top defenses, the Steelers could swap Russell Wilson for Rodgers as they look to make a deep playoff run.
Is Pittsburgh Better Suited With Rodgers or Russell Wilson?
Pittsburgh may have a clearer picture of what they’d get by bringing Wilson back, but Rodgers remains a question mark. Both quarterbacks played behind shaky offensive lines last season, limiting their effectiveness.
Wilson built chemistry with some Steelers receivers, but Pickens remained the focal point of the offense. Now, with an elite receiving duo, Pittsburgh could offer an ideal situation for a veteran QB.
In PFSN’s 2024 QB+ rankings, Wilson finished 17th, while Rodgers dropped to 21st. Wilson’s 75.3 (C+) rating helped carry an average Steelers offense to a playoff appearance. PFSN’s Ben Rolfe analyzed Wilson’s debut season in Pittsburgh.
“Wilson finished with a 0.10 EPA/DB, 8.7 nYPA, and a 40% third-down conversion rate, all of which are good without being good enough. While he didn’t cost the Steelers the game, he didn’t really do anything to win it for them, either,” Rolfe said.
MORE: Top 121 Free Agent Rankings for 2025
Rodgers, on the other hand, recorded a 72.2 (C-) grade despite arguably having better offensive weapons than Wilson. Rolfe explained why Rodgers’ season led to a 21st-place ranking.
“On the season, Rodgers has a -0.02 EPA/DB (27th), ranks 36th from a clean pocket (0.07 EPA/DB), and has converted just 33.5% of the time on third down (29th). His 6.2 nYPA ranks 30th and is very low, considering he’s getting 5.8 YAC/Cp, which ranks ninth this season,” he said.
Surprisingly, despite Wilson finishing higher than Rodgers in QB+ rankings, Rodgers ranked higher on PFSN’s Top 121 NFL Free Agents, landing at 53rd, while Wilson placed 70th.
One thing Rodgers and Wilson have in common is their age. Rodgers (41) and Wilson (36) would likely be short-term solutions for Pittsburgh’s ongoing quarterback dilemma.
Whether Pittsburgh decides to draft a QB in the 2025 NFL Draft this April in Green Bay, Wisconsin, remains to be seen. But keep an eye on Rodgers and Wilson as the top candidates for the black and gold, as many other free agent quarterbacks have already found new homes.