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Pat McAfee Raises Eyebrows With Cryptic Aaron Rodgers Comments

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Michael Gallagher | Last updated Apr 18, 2025 9:49 AM ET

It appears just one week out from the 2025 NFL draft that free-agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ only suitor right now is the Pittsburgh Steelers — a team he spent a considerable amount of time with on an in-person visit, in which he reportedly spoke extensively with general manager Omar Khan, head coach Mike Tomlin, and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith.

But Rodgers still hasn’t made a decision about whether or not he wants to play next season, and he made it known during an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Thursday that he won’t be bullied into making a decision any sooner than he wants.

“This entire time, I haven't felt like I owed anybody a decision at any point,” Rodgers stated. “I've said, ‘Listen, if you need to move on and do something, love and respect.’ But there's been no deadline.”

Many Steelers fans have voiced their frustration on social media with Rodgers and his lack of urgency to give the Steelers an answer.

Some NFL analysts have even criticized the four-time MVP for dragging his feet and leaving Pittsburgh in limbo as it decides whether or not to take a quarterback in next week’s draft.

But McAfee seemed to suggest that Rodgers hasn’t reached a decision yet because his attention has been on some serious issues going on in his personal life.

“I think he probably didn't want to make a decision, do it all, knowing that he was going to be absent, not only physically but like, mentally,” McAfee said. “Very serious things. I almost feel like—I'm not going to say—but very, very, very serious things, not for him, but people close to him and he feels I think, compelled, people that have been around him a long time and have had a lot of things happen to them that are very, very serious.

“I think he was very up front with people like, ‘I don't want to do this’ and then [be away from the team]...I don't think he liked how big that story got last year about the OTAs. I think he wants it to very much work if he is going to continue to play.”

Rodgers also shared on Thursday that though he’s fond of the Steelers organization, retirement is still a very real possibility for him as well.

“It sounds like he is a fan of the Steelers and hasn't had time to make a decision or time to commit to a football team and be their quarterback with everything going on around him,” McAfee added.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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