Aaron Rodgers Watch seems far from over after Vikings snub as Giants, Steelers wait

You may be able to go on a darkness retreat and not worry about Aaron Rodgers making a decision on his future while you’re gone.

Rodgers, seemingly down to just the Giants and Steelers after the Vikings passed on signing him, is “in no rush at all” to decide his 2025 plans, ESPN reported Wednesday.

This latest report is one in a string of Rodgers updates that have shown the ex-Jets quarterback doesn’t feel any pressure to sign.

He reportedly wanted to sign with the Vikings, but Minnesota instead is committing to second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy.

That seemingly leaves the Rodgers sweepstakes at two teams.

The Giants and Steelers would surely love to know where Rodgers stands so they can adjust if necessary.

Russell Wilson remains a free agent and recently met with both the Giants and Browns following a season with the Steelers.

Since Wilson did not sign with either club, it appears he or the teams are waiting for the Rodgers domino to fall before proceeding.

The Giants have also talked with Jameis Winston and Joe Flacco, but they are bottom-of-the-barrel options entering a make-or-break season for coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen.

The Steelers could always just bring back Wilson, but they reportedly preferred to re-sign Justin Fields before he landed with the Jets.

Wilson, 36, lost five straight games to end the 2024 season.

The optics of retaining a quarterback who flopped when it mattered are poor.

And thus, you have two of the NFL’s storied franchises waiting on the whims of a 41-year-old quarterback.

Not that everyone is OK with this wait.

Adam Schefter has expressed his issues with this prolonged process, while Steelers star Cam Heyward said Rodgers should know whether he wants to wear the black and gold.

“I ain’t doing that darkness retreat. I don’t need any of that crap,” Heyward recently said on his podcast. “Either you want to be a Pittsburgh Steeler or you don’t. That’s simple. That’s the pitch. If you want me to recruit, that’s the recruiting pitch. Pittsburgh Steelers, if you want to be a part of it, so be it. If you don’t, no skin off my back.”

There are plenty of reasons for teams to pass on Rodgers, including his flop with the Jets this past year, but desperate teams are forced into desperate measures.

You can sell yourself on the idea of a motivated Rodgers pairing with either the Giants’ Malik Nabers or the Pittsburgh duo of George Pickens and DK Metcalf and lifting an offense.

Yet, the Jets had Garrett Wilson and Davante Adams … and went 5-12.

The one potential issue for Rodgers is the Giants and Steelers, in theory, could make alternative plans before he decides, but it feels safe to say they would have done that already if they planned to do so.

So grab a soda and a bag of chips and buckle up. Rodgers Watch may not be nearing an end.