Nobody should have been surprised to see Aaron Rodgers sign a one-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the 2026 season. This is what team president Art Rooney II and general manager Omar Khan hoped for from the start.
While running it back with a 42-year-old quarterback after an underwhelming finish may not have been our preferred choice, now that Rodgers is here, we're hoping he makes the most of his opportunity.
And he's off to a great start.
Rodgers' decision to ink a deal lasted much longer than we would have preferred, but his signing came nearly a month sooner than it did last year, when he showed up just in time for mandatory minicamp on June 5. This year, Rodgers is dialed in as OTAs kick off on Monday, and ESPN's Brooke Pryor notes that the veteran quarterback was one of the first guys at the facility.
"Aaron Rodgers is in the Steelers facility this morning. He was one of the first guys in the building before 7am, left for about 45 minutes with a staffer and returned around 7:45. Steelers will be on the practice field for their first OTA practice at 11am," Pryor wrote.
It's important to note that OTAs are voluntary: players are encouraged to attend but not required. The fact that Rodgers, two days after putting pen to paper on a one-year contract, was at the team facility before 7 am (when practice doesn't start until 11 am) is a good sign of where his motivation lies.
Aaron Rodgers already appears to be dialed in for the Pittsburgh Steelers
We don't want to read too much into a player showing up for OTAs a few hours early. But when this player happens to be your veteran quarterback and a four-time MVP, this is the behavior and leadership you want to see.
I still don't believe Rodgers is the guy who can take the Steelers deep into the playoffs in his current state, as he hasn't had an impressive season since 2021. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh is looking to avoid a ten-year drought without a playoff win.
Still, Rodgers seems to have the mentality and approach every Steelers fan was hoping he would have this year. The veteran QB will turn 43 years old during the 2026 season. He already has a Super Bowl ring and a Hall of Fame resume. While earning one last payday could have played a major factor in his return, there's no question that he wants to find success on the field this year.
Whether success will come to the Steelers at the hand of Rodgers is another question entirely. But showing up early for the first day of organized team activities is a great place to start, and it's what all fans were hoping to see this time around.
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