Back in the spring of 2023, the Green Bay Packers made the then controversial decision to trade future Pro Football Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets. The move, as fans recall, ended a long and drawn out feud between the four-time NFL MVP and the organization that drafted him back in 2005.
The move also, of course, paved the way for Jordan Love to take over as the starting quarterback, just as Rodgers had taken over for Brett Favre in 2008.
And while the Packers have made the NFL Playoffs in each season following Rodgers’ departure, their former quarterback saw his time with the Jets turn out to be a massive disappointment. He missed virtually all of 2023 with a torn Achilles, and New York finished 5-12 with him as their starter last season.
Now, Rodgers is looking for a new home.
Former Green Bay Packers Quarterback Aaron Rodgers Could Play for the Pittsburgh Steelers
One cannot say that the Jets did not do everything they could to make the Rodgers experiment work. They did. New York went out and signed his favorite former teammates, and even acquired Davante Adams midseason last year in an effort to turn their season around.
None of it worked.
As a result of his failed two seasons, and the unwillingness of their new head coach and general manager to put up with all the off-field things that come with having him as the team’s starting quarterback, Rodgers was released with a post-June 1 designation, making him a free agent for the first time in his 20-year NFL career.
But the market for Rodgers was not as competitive as it once was. When the Packers made him available for trade in early 2023, there were a plethora of teams interested. Now, there is only one: the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Green Bay Packers Wide Receiver Romeo Doubs Named in Pittsburgh Steelers Trade Rumors
Rodgers has been courted by the Steelers for weeks now, but has not yet signed with them because of what he referenced as things going on in his personal life. The absence of him on their roster, though, has not stopped the Steelers from going through with their pre-determined offseason plans.
On Wednesday, it was reported that Pittsburgh had traded embattled wide receiver George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys. Since they already acquired two-time Pro Bowler DK Metcalf earlier this offseason, their offense can still be appealing to Rodgers should he decide to sign with them.
But the trade also started rumors that they could be looking to add another pass catcher, one that Rodgers is familiar with. And while some have floated former Packers and Jets wideout Allen Lazard, some believe Pittsburgh could look to a player currently on Green Bay’s roster: Romeo Doubs.
In the lone season that they played together, 2022, Doubs (as a rookie) had 42 receptions for 425 yards and three touchdowns (he missed four games due to a sprained ankle).
However, it should be noted that Rodgers did not work with Doubs during that offseason. After the Packers drafted Love, he refused to attend any voluntary workouts. This led to a lack of chemistry between him and Doubs (and Green Bay’s other young pass catchers).
While it is an intriguing thought that Doubs could go to Pittsburgh in a trade, his history with Rodgers is not as spectacular as some want to think it was.
