NFL Free Agency Alert: QB Aaron Rodgers agrees to one-year deal with Steelers

The wait is finally over in Pittsburgh, and across the NFL.

After nearly three months of speculation and suspense, Aaron Rodgers has put pen to paper. The four-time MVP quarterback has agreed to a one-year contract with the Steelers, pending a routine physical. The team confirmed the news on Thursday, and all signs point to Rodgers suiting up in time for Pittsburgh's mandatory minicamp next week.

This high-profile move sends shockwaves throughout the league. From front offices to locker rooms, Rodgers' arrival in the Steel City will have ripple effects across the NFL landscape, impacting rosters, rival strategies, and playoff projections alike. Now, the real drama begins.

Rodgers' decision ends an offseason saga that began over 80 days ago when free agency kicked off and gained steam after his March 21 visit to the Steelers' facility. Pittsburgh had been heavily linked to the four-time MVP ever since moving on from Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Steelers remained confident all along that Rodgers would eventually wear black and gold.

During his appearance on The Pat McAfee Show in April, Rodgers clarified his prolonged free agency:

"I wasn't stringing anyone along. I wasn't holding anyone hostage," Rodgers said. "I'm open to anything and attached to nothing… Retirement could still be a possibility, but right now my focus has been -- and will continue to be -- on my personal life."

Set to celebrate his 42nd birthday during the 2025 campaign, Rodgers was cut loose by the Jets in March after a reportedly tense meeting with new head coach Aaron Glenn and GM Darren Mougey. Despite returning to start every game last year after his Achilles injury in 2023, Rodgers delivered inconsistent results, finishing with 3,897 yards, 29 touchdowns, 11 picks, and a QBR of 48.1, ranking 25th out of 32.

The Jets stumbled to a 5-12 finish, leaving Rodgers looking for a fresh chapter. The Steelers, meanwhile, kept Mason Rudolph in the fold and waited patiently, even bypassing quarterbacks in the early rounds of April's draft. They eventually grabbed Will Howard out of Ohio State in the sixth.

Despite being one of the biggest names on the market this offseason and boasting four MVP trophies, the jury's still out on whether Rodgers has enough left in the tank to lift the Steelers. There's no denying his resume, but with age creeping in and mobility in question, the move is bound to spark debate.

Is he the steady hand this offense needs? Or just a short-term fix in a long-term rebuild? One thing's for sure: the Steelers didn't have many better options staring them in the face.

Here's some of the quick reaction from the NFL world on the news:

Rodgers' move to Pittsburgh adds even more spice to Week 1, as the Steelers are set to visit his old squad, the New York Jets, in a highly anticipated season opener grudge match.