Mike Tomlin has never been the loudest guy in the room—but when he goes quiet, it’s time to listen. The Pittsburgh Steelers head coach, usually known for his commanding presence and quotable fire, has met the Aaron Rodgers saga with something far more calculated: radio silence. No sideline smirks. No podium persuasion. Just an uneasy calm while the quarterback carousel spins into chaos.

Rodgers, of course, is doing what he does best—commanding headlines without saying much at all. From cryptic Pat McAfee appearances to vague nods toward retirement, the 41-year-old is playing chess while everyone else refreshes X. Pittsburgh, meanwhile, waits. And waits. Because what if? The Steelers have made their move. A one-year, $30 million offer. A locker room prepped. A roster ready. And yet, the only audible is Tomlin’s stillness—a kind of non-verbal tug-of-war that’s starting to feel like a masterclass in patience… or a slow unraveling. Because when the silence drags too long, even the most disciplined organizations start to squirm.

The Steelers are still in the same mess they got into by releasing Justin Fields and Russell Wilson. HC Tomlin and GM Omar Khan had high hopes of signing the 41-year-old veteran slinger to the Black and the Gold. But he is an enigma who has seen it all and doesn’t budge under any type of pressure. He wants to take his sweet time. And the only logic he has ever given is waiting to sign with a serious Super Bowl contender. But how long do the Steelers wait?

The Athletic’s Diana Russini and ex-NFLer Chase Daniel discussed this on the Thursday, 17th of April episode of Scoop City. While talking about different scenarios, she said, “They (Steelers) need to make a move and now look, maybe this gives Mike Tomlin and Omar Khan, a little bit more ammo to make a move. While they were sitting and waiting maybe in their mind, they were holding out hope that it would be Aaron (Rodgers). And maybe he still decides to go to Pittsburgh but at least now they can get their ducks in a row.” The message is clear.

Sign backups or sort out all other departments before it comes down to the quarterback depth. The wait can’t go on forever. They signed Mason Rudolph on a 2-year, $8 million deal. Is he good enough to start? Mike Tomlin says so. But he was the one who released him in 2024. There is another option while waiting for Aaron Rodgers.

The Black and Gold can go all-in for the draft QBs. They hosted Shedeur Sanders (Colorado) and Jaxson Dart (Alabama). The former even praised the head coach, calling him similar to his father, ‘Coach Prime’ Deion Sanders. But there is one roadblock. They pick 21st in the draft. The only way they could grab a top-prospect signal caller is by trading places and jumping up.

While the AFC North franchise is waiting to secure its quarterback, the veteran is playing a psychological game. He wants to talk less but reveal more.

Aaron Rodgers still keeps a mystery

The legend forged in Green Bay appeared on The Pat McAfee Show, where he hinted at the reason behind delaying a deal with the Steelers. Aaron Rodgers said, “I’ve had constraints in my life right now that warrant my attention.” But he did not reveal what the issues were. That’s one of the important questions he shrugged off.

The next question was about the teams he spoke to. Alongside Mike Tomlin (Steelers), he named Brian Daboll (Giants) and Kevin O’Connell (Vikings). But he did not reveal anything else. The grapevine is abuzz with his liking for the Vikes. He considers them a Super Bowl contender.

However, there is a very big possibility of a major heartbreak. Aaron Rodgers has never denied retirement rumors. He is still contemplating it and added, “I’m open to anything and attached to nothing, so retirement could still be a possibility.” But the fans are still guessing what he is up to in his personal life.

Chase Daniel also echoed the same sentiment as he said, “He (Aaron Rodgers) didn’t say anything. He didn’t tell us anything.” The 2 decade experience in the league has taught the veteran a major lesson. It’s a narrative war! And he has to always stay in control.