Aaron Rodgers Joins Steelers on One-Year Contract

PITTSBURGH — Aaron Rodgers is officially a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers. The team shared a photo of a smiling Rodgers signing his contract Saturday with the caption ‘done deal.’

The veteran quarterback signed a one-year, $13.65 million deal after passing a physical at the team facility on Saturday morning, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The deal includes $10 million guaranteed and can be worth up to $19.5 million with incentives.

Rodgers will wear No. 8 during his time in Pittsburgh, the same number he wore while playing for the New York Jets. This is a change from his previous number, 12, which he wore during his long career with the Green Bay Packers. The Steelers’ legendary quarterback Terry Bradshaw wore No. 12, which is not officially retired but is rarely given to new players.

Rodgers, 41, arrived at the practice facility just after 8 a.m. two days after agreeing to terms with the Steelers. He was greeted by general manager Omar Khan at the entrance. He is expected to participate in the team’s mandatory minicamp, which starts Tuesday.

In late March, Rodgers held a private throwing session in California with new Steelers wide receiver Allen Robinson, whom Pittsburgh acquired in a trade with the Seahawks before the start of free agency.

The agreement with Pittsburgh sets the stage for a Week 1 matchup between Rodgers and his former team, the Jets. New York will host the Steelers for their season opener.

Rodgers was released by the Jets in March, one month after what he described as a contentious meeting with new head coach Aaron Glenn and new general manager Darren Mougey. He joined New York in 2023 after an 18-season run with the Packers, where he won a Super Bowl following the 2010 season.

Last season, after missing most of his first season with the Jets due to a torn Achilles injury sustained in his debut, Rodgers started every game. However, his overall performance was inconsistent. He passed for 3,897 yards and 28 touchdowns, ranking third on the Jets’ single-season record list, but he also recorded 11 interceptions and finished with a 48.1 QBR, ranking 25th out of 32 qualified passers in the NFL.

The news of Rodgers joining the Steelers has positively impacted the team’s betting odds. The Steelers’ odds of winning the AFC North improved from +550 to +500, according to ESPN BET. Their playoff odds also shifted from +150 to +140. After the announcement, the Steelers became a 3-point favorite in their season opener against the Jets, up from a previous 2.5-point favorite.