After months of drawn-out speculation, Aaron Rodgers officially decided to sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers, according multiple reports on June 5.
All signs pointed toward Rodgers, who turns 42 in December, returning to play his 21st season in the NFL under Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin.
While the New York Jets paid $49 million in dead to immediately part ways with Rodgers after the 2024 season, and he’s two years removed from a season-ending Achilles injury, Pittsburgh plans to make the four-time MVP their new starter.
Instead of re-signing either Russell Wilson or Justin Fields, they gambled on making Rodgers their top priority.
In the meantime, Wilson signed a one-year, $10.5 million contract with the New York Giants while Fields went on to replace Rodgers, inking a two-year, $40 million deal with the Jets.
Former Steelers quarterback Justin Fields at Acrisure Stadium.
Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
For Fields, who led the Steelers to a 4-2 start before Wilson returned from an offseason injury, he’s excited for a fresh start with the Jets. “I think I can be great,” Fields told reporters last week.
“That’s been the goal for me my whole life, my whole career. I think the sky’s the limit for this team, for this offense, but we do have a long way to go.”
Shortly after the Rodgers news broke on Thursday, Fields reposted a message from the Jets Instagram page on his Stories that simply read, “Work.”
Justin Fields
@justnfields/Instagram
The Steelers travel to the Meadowlands to take on the Jets in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL season, so fans won’t need to wait long to see quarterback switch in action.
Fields is also working with a whole new team. Following Rodgers’ exit, the Jets hired a new head coach, Aaron Glenn, new offensive coordinator, Tanner Engstrand, new defensive coordinator, Steve Wilks, and new general manager, Darren Mougey.
