It’s the kind of quarterback move that might’ve made sense five years ago or in a Madden franchise mode reboot. But in 2025? It feels more like a Hail Mary lobbed from the front office rather than a strategic pivot toward contention. After weeks of uncertainty, Aaron Rodgers is officially a Pittsburgh Steeler. He’ll earn around $20 million on a one-year deal. And yet, instead of fanfare, the prevailing emotion around Pittsburgh is more like bewilderment. This wasn’t plan A. Or B. Maybe not even plan C.Rodgers and Russell Wilson, the man the Steelers just let go, have had eerily similar trajectories over the past three seasons. Rodgers: 54 touchdowns, 23 picks, 63.7% completions. Wilson: 58 touchdowns, 24 picks, 63.4% completions. One isn’t saving you from the other. They are, more or less, the same tier of player: talented, past their prime, limited upside. The difference? Rodgers still commands the room. And for the Steelers, that might have been enough to roll the dice.But for many, this move just didn’t make sense. Even a former MLB team president has chimed in, calling them out. Talking about, or rather ranting about, the Steelers’ signing of Aaron Rodgers was the ex-President of the Miami Marlins, David Samson. He uploaded a nearly seven-minute video of himself on YouTube, talking about how the Steelers have it all wrong. Samson, in this video, appreciated the loyalty that the owners have shown towards the coaches for so many years since 1969, while saying that Aaron Rodgers might not share the same sentiment.“The owners of the Steelers, longtime owners, veteran owners who are all about loyalty. How many head coaches have they had? Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher, Mike Tomlin, how many more? That’s like my whole lifetime, three coaches. That they are bringing in someone who does not put the L in loyalty, puts the L in loser. Why would you do that? Why bring in someone who’s all about himself and not about the team?” said Samson. The math might not add up for many. After all, Rodgers did stay with the Green Bay Packers for 18 years. That is irrespective of the fact that both of them saw their relationship sour in 2023, when Rodgers moved to the Jets.NFL, American Football Herren, USA NFC Championship-Green Bay Packers at Atlanta Falcons, Jan 22, 2017 Atlanta, GA, USA Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers 12 speaks to media after the game against the Atlanta Falcons in the 2017 NFC Championship Game at the Georgia Dome. Atlanta defeated Green Bay 44-21. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports, 22.01.2017 19:03:15, 9832484, NPStrans, Georgia Dome, NFL, Atlanta Falcons, Green Bay Packers, Aaron Rodgers PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xDalexZaninex 9832484Samson talked about Aaron Rodgers’ need to be in the headlines and be the centre of attention. “Aaron Rodgers ain’t walking away from money or the spotlight or all the things that he does that finance all the other things he does,” he said, calling money and fame the only two factors for him still playing the game. Discussing Aaron Rodgers’ attitude, Samson also said that the only circumstance under which he would consider retiring from playing. “You can bet your sweet Pippi, you’re gonna have to rip the uniform off his back or you’re just gonna have enough teams who say, you know what, probably not gonna help us. That’ll be the end of Aaron Rodgers, but not yet,” he added.This move flies in the face of Pittsburgh’s decades-long identity. The Rooney family values continuity. Tomlin’s whole ethos is team-first. Rodgers is, by reputation and reality, the opposite. His falling-out in Green Bay wasn’t just about roster construction. It was personal. He publicly pressured the Packers to fire their GM, criticized ownership, and pushed narratives about loyalty and legacy. Then came New York — and more drama. Rodgers’ absence in OTAs. His frequent appearances on The Pat McAfee Show. His veiled shots at teammates. And ultimately, the house of cards collapsed. The Jets’ front office was fired. Rodgers wasn’t.Now, Pittsburgh hopes it’ll be different. That their structure and culture will tame the volatility. That Tomlin can keep it from unraveling. Plus, contrary to what Samson said, money wasn’t a factor for Rodgers when it came to signing with the team. After all, he had even claimed to be ready to play for the Steelers for a fraction of what they’re reportedly paying him.Aaron Rodgers didn’t really care about the moneyAs Rodgers joined the Steelers to strengthen their quarterback position, everyone had only one question: How much is he getting paid? While some were genuinely curious about the amount, some were plotting to create controversy if the amount asked by Rodgers was beyond his market value. It seems that the second group might have to wait some more, though. Despite a figure of $20 million being mentioned, it is not the actual amount; rather, it is just an estimate.While many have reported that the apparent delay in signing him was due to financial negotiations, Rodgers can boldly come and deny them, especially after the recent update. In response to reports about the delay in signing, Steelers insider Gerry Dulac has revealed what transpired behind the scenes regarding the financial aspect. He said while posting on X, “Money was NEVER the issue in deal with Aaron Rodgers. It was always a one-year offer for less than $20 million.” Silencing those who questioned Rodgers’ financial ambition over playing for the team.Money was NEVER the issue in deal with Aaron Rodgers. It was always a one-year offer for less than $20 million.— Gerry Dulac (@gerrydulac) June 6, 2025In fact, Aaron Rodgers also mentioned during a previous interview on the Pat McAfee show that he didn’t care about the money. He even claimed that he would happily play for “$10 million“. This is also not the first time he might play for between $10 million and $20 million. However, the key difference was that the first time was during the early days of his career, around 2010, and now, he’s a well-known legend of the game, nearing the end of his career. Call it the circle of career.The post Aaron Rodgers to Turn on Mike Tomlin & Steelers, Says Ex-MLB President After $20M Contract appeared first on EssentiallySports.