Everyone is assuming that if Aaron Rodgers opts not to retire, he will return to be the Pittsburgh Steelers’ quarterback once again.
The Denver Broncos may be throwing a plot twist into the mix.
Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio reports that Denver is looking into the idea of adding Rodgers to their roster instead.
There are a bunch of layers to this, including the Broncos as a whole, Bo Nix individually and the Steelers’ QB depth chart.
What Aaron Rodgers could mean to Broncos
Rodgers would be a big swing by Sean Payton.
The head coach would be taking a chance on a future Hall of Famer to try and enhance his own legacy, too.
“Coach Sean Payton, who like any coach who has won a Super Bowl with one team is keenly aware that no coach has won a Super Bowl with two different franchises, may be tempted to roll the dice on a possible one-year upgrade (if Rodgers would truly be an upgrade) in order to finish the work the Broncos started in 2025,” Florio writes. “For Payton, the possibility of blazing a new trail for NFL coaches could be the thing that gets him to Canton.”
What Aaron Rodgers could mean to Bo Nix
If the Broncos sign Nix, it’s a sign of at least one thing and maybe two.
For starters, it says they aren’t sure about his injury recovery after hurting his ankle in the postseason.
“There’s talk of the Broncos possibly bringing Rodgers in for a visit,” Florio writes. “The motivation comes from the possibility that current starter Bo Nix won’t be fully and completely back to 100 percent when Week 1 rolls around.”
Then there’s the idea that this would signal the Broncos not having total belief in Nix.
“If he thinks Rodgers gives them a better chance to win the Super Bowl than Nix, why wouldn’t Payton at least ponder the possibility?” Florio writes.
What Aaron Rodgers leaving could mean for Steelers
The Steelers would be in big trouble if Rodgers left.
Their QB depth chart would then only include Will Howard and Mason Rudolph.
They’d either have to sign an underwhelming veteran, like Kirk Cousins or Carson Wentz, or draft an unproven player and hope someone decent ends up winning the competition.
The Steelers have backed themselves into a corner where they really need Rodgers to return.
