NFL world waits as Aaron Rodgers keeps Steelers and retirement decisions hanging in balance

Aaron Rodgers has yet to reveal his 2025 NFL plans, and while many fans may have tuned out the ongoing drama, the “Aaron Rodgers watch” remains far from over. From cryptic visits to speculative theories, Rodgers continues to command attention—even if not everyone is still watching with bated breath. But attention may just be what Rodgers thrives on. The longer the mystery lingers, the more the spotlight remains fixed on him, which might just be part of his game plan.Eighteen days have passed since Aaron Rodgers was spotted visiting the Pittsburgh Steelers. And as rumors swirl, an eye-catching scenario has begun circulating: that Rodgers could make a dramatic, WWE-style entrance at Pat McAfee’s Wednesday night event in Pittsburgh, with his signature theme music blaring before declaring his decision to join the Steelers. While this sounds theatrical, it might actually make sense—if his decision is already made.Yet others believe Rodgers may be waiting on the Minnesota Vikings, particularly to see if they pivot away from rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy. Reports earlier this offseason indicated that Minnesota was his top preference. “The four-time MVP had the Minnesota Vikings at the top of his wish list,” as noted by The Athletic’s Michael Silver, Dianna Russini, and Alec Lewis. Now, however, with the Vikings seemingly ready to hand the reins to McCarthy, that door might be closing fast.If that’s the case, what's holding Rodgers back? A logical explanation is that he may be trying to avoid offseason workouts altogether—a tactic he's been known to use before. Or perhaps he’s simply not ready to commit, keeping all options open until the last possible moment. Retirement has also been floated as a possibility. Back in February, The Athletic quoted an agent saying Rodgers might walk away because “he won’t want the teams that will want him.” But NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport has since cast doubt on that scenario, saying the “specter of retirement—possible retirement—doesn't seem likely.”From Pittsburgh’s side, patience appears to be wearing thin. Although ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler said on SportsCenter that the Steelers “remain optimistic” and may have received “some sort of assurance at some point from Rodgers,” the silence from Rodgers' camp is creating an awkward narrative. It doesn’t help that many around the league believe Rodgers is still holding out hope for a better situation to materialize—making Pittsburgh look like a fallback option rather than a first choice.And therein lies the dilemma. Rodgers, despite being 41 and coming off a forgettable 2024 season, is still the best quarterback available. But for a Steelers team already burned by the Russell Wilson experiment, signing another aging star carries obvious risks. As Rapoport put it, while there’s “positive momentum” toward an agreement, the situation is largely unchanged.With the NFL Draft looming and training camp still months away, Mike Tomlin has indicated that “training camp is the line of demarcation.” Until then, Steelers fans can only wait—and hope that Rodgers’ decision, whenever it comes, doesn’t leave them feeling like second best. Because while Rodgers might still have something left in the tank, this drawn-out decision could end up satisfying no one.Also Read: Could the Pittsburgh Steelers sign Aaron Rodgers? A look into the predicted $30 million deal and its strategic impact