Steelers Rethinking Funny ‘Retirement Home’ Take on Aaron Rodgers

It’s natural to feel overwhelmed by the flurry of quarterback options getting thrown at the Pittsburgh Steelers in hypothetical scenarios and free agent projections.

Quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Justin Fields are set to hit the open market in March, with recent reporting suggesting the latter is the preferred option to return, although the former got the green light when it mattered most in 2024.

Sam Darnold , Jameis Winton, Daniel Jones, and Aaron Rodgers are among the names linked to Pittsburgh, with varying levels of credibility and optimism.

However, each of these veteran passers has warts attached to their profile, opening them up to potentially harsh criticism.

This might have been on display when safety DeShon Elliott commented on an Instagram rumor about Rodgers hitting free agency.

“Leave his (butt)  at the retirement home,” he commented.

Given Rodgers’ struggles in 2024 and his tendency to … fall out of favor, Elliott’s comment went viral as a brutal takedown of a Canton-bound passer.

However, the Steelers safety revealed new feelings about a potential Rodgers signing on Tuesday. Proactive Sports posted a photo of Rodgers and Elliott, with the quarterback smirking with a finger pointed to the safety and Elliott with two thumbs up and a playful smile.

Subsequently, it seems much more likely now that Elliott is on board with Pittsburgh playing host to Rodgers’ final chapter in pro football. Perhaps the two knew they’d be training together in short order, or had fostered a relationship earlier in their playing careers.

Whatever the reason, that initial vitriol can be put to rest.

How much of an upgrade Rodgers would provide is debatable. By expected points added per play and success rate, Rodgers finished just ahead of Wilson in 2024. By completion percentage over expected, Wilson was far better. That confirmed what the eye test showed in 2024: two aging, inconsistent passers with flashes of competence. Wilson found success by running hot on low-probability deep balls, Rodgers kept the offense on the tracks but came up short a little too often to win games.

For better or worse, signing Rodgers is a sort of continuity. It’s new blood and a warm body, but one that will be tasked with merely being a role player in the Steelers’ season, hoping to scrape into the playoffs before and remain respectable, no matter what happens in January.