With one fell swoop, Aaron Rodgers—the 41-year-old quarterback and four-time MVP—has shifted the conversation entirely. He signed a one-year, $13.65 million deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The contract contains a $10 million guarantee but can grow to $19.5 million through performance-based incentives. This decision comes on the heels of a difficult year spent with the New York Jets. His inconsistency showed up in the boxscore, as Rodgers had 3,897 passing yards with 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, finishing the season at a QBR of 48.1. That’s good for 25th among QBs in the NFL.
Rodgers will take over the number 8 for the Steelers. He was allowed to wear this number from his previous time with the Jets. He originally debuted with the Green Bay Packers for 18 seasons, where of course he’s known for wearing number 12. The Packers have not formally retired their number 12. They almost never give it to new players, which makes Rodgers’ switch to number 8 a pretty perfect decision.
As for the veteran quarterback’s play while in New York, let’s just say it was up and down. He lost nearly all of his rookie season due to a torn Achilles. After that, he rebounded, starting all of last season. Roll it all together, and even though he showed glimpses of his ability, his production didn’t come close to measuring up. After a fiery meeting with the new Jets’ head coach Aaron Glenn and GM Darren Mougey, the team made waves by releasing one of its key players. Back in March, they cut Rodgers loose.
Just looking at Rodgers’ career outside of advanced metrics is impressive. He went on to win a Super Bowl with the Packers after the 2010 season. His transition to the Steel City marks another exciting chapter in his multi-faceted career. He’s now immersing himself in a new culture and team dynamic.
Rodgers will participate in the Steelers’ mandatory minicamp beginning Tuesday. This is encouraging, as it shows he’s looking to really grab hold of this new opportunity. The Steelers will look to leverage his experience and skill level as they aim for success in the upcoming season.
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