Aaron Rodgers Biographer Thinks QB Will Sign Steelers Contract By Mandatory Camp

Aaron Rodgers is eventually going to sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers. That's what his biographer thinks, at least.

Ian O'Connor, who wrote 2024's Out of the Darkness: The Mystery of Aaron Rodgers, appeared on 93.7 The Fan's The PM Team show on Friday and offered his take on Rodgers' lingering free agency.

"I just think verbally, behind the scenes, not that he guaranteed it, but he's told [the Steelers], 'Listen, I'm gonna play for you. I just don't want to go there and then miss part of mandatory minicamp because of my personal issues. I'm pretty sure they're gonna be solved by the end of May, at least in my satisfaction where I can give you my all,'" he said (h/t Ross McCorkle of Steelers Depot). "So that's where I think he is."

It should be noted that Pittsburgh's mandatory minicamps will take place from June 10-12, while the offseason program started on April 21 and its voluntary organized teams activities are being held on May 27-29 and June 3-5.

Rodgers previously said during an April appearance on The Pat McAfee Show that he has "off-the-field stuff going on that requires my attention," and "personal commitments I made not knowing what my future was going to look like after last year, that are important to me."

"I have a couple people in my inner, inner circle who are battling some difficult stuff," he added. "So, I have a lot of things that are taking my attention and have since the beginning of January away from football."

O'Connor doesn't believe Rodgers' personal life will ultimately keep him from signing with the Steelers, however.

"The sense I got was, I think I have a pretty good sense of what it is, and I don't think it's something that would prevent him from playing football," he said Friday.

The Steelers have certainly put all of their eggs in the Rodgers' basket this offseason. After letting both Justin Fields and Russell Wilson walk in free agency, the team didn't make a major addition at quarterback in free agency and drafted Ohio State's Will Howard in the sixth round, who is seen as more of a long-term project than a plug-and-play starter.

It's the sort of approach that suggests a message came from Rodgers akin to, "I plan to sign with you but later in the offseason." Because if he decides he doesn't want to continue his NFL career, the Steelers will be left with Mason Rudolph as the starting quarterback, leaving a playoff-caliber roster in dire straits at the most important position in the sport.

With Rodgers, you just never know.