Aaron Rodgers will play Houdini with the media and the footballing world. At least, that’s what he has said. “After this thing is done (football), you won’t see me. You could maybe see me in Lake Tahoe (golf), but that’s it,” he told Pat McAfee. No TV gigs, no analyst role—just Rodgers, football, and whatever cryptic decision-making process he’s currently running. Because he doesn’t want to go out, riding into the sunset being a scapegoat. So, what does he do? He wants to keep his options open.

But his options? One is the Steelers, who might be interested in him. However, he has shown no interest. The other? Well, we all know his saga with the Vikings, and Adam Schefter might have just added another layer to it. “I thought the comments from Art Rooney yesterday were interesting because he made it sound like he believes that Aaron Rodgers is coming to Pittsburgh. But the people I’ve spoken to, they’re kind of in the dark…”

Schefter added, “[But] I do think that he’s [Rodgers] been waiting in the back of his mind for Minnesota. It just feels that way. Pittsburgh’s been interested all along. If you wanted to get that done, you could have gotten that done last week or the week before.”

But the one place that he can play right now and anytime before the draft is Pittsburgh. That’s the reality of it all. Steel City is the one place he can go sign. He can’t sign in Minnesota today. So, as Schefter also said, “It certainly sounds like Pittsburgh is the logical landing spot right now.”

However, till where does logic come into the picture? Because, if our memory serves us well, then AR doing logical things has never been part of the script. Pittsburgh is without a real QB…a Russell Wilson re-union is not a possibility anymore. Justin Fields chose to be the part of the Gang Green. So, Aaron can go there and basically end on a high. One season. The last dance.

Well, it would have happened had Minnesota not been lurking in the background, a team that Rodgers just can’t get out of his head. I mean, we can understand why he’d want a run with the Vikes. They seem more poised to go for a deeper run in postseason. And that’s something Rodgers can’t bet on. He did with the Jets and now he’s 41 with the same number of SB rings and MVPs he had before going to the Big Apple.

So what’s the holdup? It all comes down to J.J. McCarthy. If the Vikings believe their rookie QB isn’t ready, Rodgers becomes the perfect insurance policy. He knows the division. He’s got history with Minnesota. And let’s be real—he’d love to twist the knife into Green Bay just one more time. But if the Vikings roll with McCarthy? Yeah, if that happens, then that door’s slammed shut on his face. So, maybe, just maybe, the Steelers could become his saving grace.

Some are rooting for Aaron Rodgers’ ‘Last Dance’ in Steel City

Aaron Rodgers didn’t exactly crash and burn in 2024, even if the Jets’ 5-12 record suggests otherwise. He still slung it for 3,897 yards, 28 touchdowns, and a 90.5 passer rating. He even torched the Jaguars for 289 yards and three scores. And hung 339 yards on the Dolphins.

Sure, he took 40 sacks, but at 41 years old, the man was still making plays. So, the real question isn’t if Rodgers can play—it’s where he actually wants to play.

Ben Roethlisberger thinks he has the answer. The former Steelers legend, speaking on his Footbahlin podcast, made it clear: “I really believe that he’s going to be a Steeler.” But even Big Ben couldn’t ignore the Vikings-sized elephant in the room. “I think Aaron secretly—again, just my opinion—is still holding out for Minnesota, which is why he hasn’t signed with the Steelers.”

Translation? Pittsburgh may be rolling out the red carpet, but Rodgers still has purple on his mind. And honestly, can you blame him? If Rodgers wants to win right now. That’s why Minnesota might be the better shot for him. No disrespect to the Steelers. But they haven’t been true Super Bowl threats in years.

The Vikings? They were this close last season. Add Rodgers, and suddenly, they’re more than just playoff hopefuls. “I just think he thinks that Minnesota is a more complete, closer team to win a Super Bowl, and he might not be wrong,” Roethlisberger added.

The Steelers, meanwhile, seem willing to wait—but for how long? Pittsburgh’s draft plans are still murky, and Roethlisberger believes they’ll grab a QB, anyway. But if Rodgers drags this out long enough, does Pittsburgh pivot? Or does Rodgers finally make the call?