Aaron Rodgers has been told to “shut up” if he joins the Steelers

Aaron Rodgers has been told in no uncertain terms that he’ll need to “shut up” if he wants to make it with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The experienced quarterback is on the lookout for a new team after parting ways with the New York Jets following two disappointing seasons.

Initially, the race for the 41-year-old’s services seemed to be between the Steelers, Minnesota Vikings, and New York Giants – until the Giants snapped up both Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston. Meanwhile, the Vikings appear to be putting their faith in J.J. McCarthy, having parted ways with Sam Darnold, Daniel Jones, and Nick Mullens. Steelers’ chief Art Rooney II has expressed his hopefulness to ESPN about Rodgers joining the ranks at Acrisure Stadium.

Despite the four-time NFL MVP contemplating retirement after an achilles injury in 2023, he remains open to continuing his career. Rodgers reportedly wielded significant influence in the Jets’ dressing room prior to his exit.

However, former NFL cornerback Jason Bell has suggested that Rodgers will need to tone down his presence if he’s to fit in with the Steelers. Yet, despite these words of caution, Bell – who now works as an analyst for Sky Sports in the UK and previously played for teams like the Cowboys, Texans, and Giants – believes Rodgers could integrate well with the Steelers should he sign on the dotted line.

Bell said: “This is going to work, if he goes there. He’s coming off an achilles injury and that’s hard to bounce back from. But culturally, he’s going to fit in. He has to make the decision and think, ‘How do I want to go out on my shield? Do I want to go out as a winner because with these boys I don’t have to do a lot’.

“Can you stay out of your own way though, Aaron? Sometimes you’ve got to shut up. I know that sounds like an oxymoron coming from me, but he’s got to be quiet.”

Aaron Rodgers had a difficult time with the New York Jets (Image: Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

The comments were made during an event in Wrexham, where Bell was joined by fellow Sky Sports analysts Phoebe Schecter and Neil Reynolds. Schecter, who holds the distinction of being Britain’s first female NFL coach, shared her thoughts on Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin’s ability to manage star players.

She said: “If there’s any head coach in the league that can manage or work with Aaron Rodgers, it’s Mike Tomlin right now. He’s not afraid of any player. We saw it a little bit at the Jets where you’ve got such a big name coming into a building like that. Everyone does what Aaron Rodgers says, but that is not going to happen with Tomlin and the Steelers.

“When he was in New York, there were so many young guys around him and the people that he brought in. But now you’ve got all these veterans who are not going to let that happen. He knows that he can’t be the one that’s trying to manoeuvre people.”

Meanwhile, the Steelers’ top brass appear to be growing restless as they await Rodgers’ decision on his future. Owner Rooney has suggested that his patience might have its limits, despite previously expressing confidence in securing the star quarterback’s services.

In a candid chat with ESPN, Rooney revealed his feelings about the ongoing negotiations. He said: “We keep hearing that he’s, I guess, headed in our direction, and so that seems to be all signs are positive so far.” Conceding the tedious nature of the wait, he added: “I didn’t envision it taking this long.”

When quizzed about how much longer he would play the waiting game, he said: “Not forever, but a little while longer”. On the other hand, Steelers coach Tomlin shared insights from his meeting with Rodgers, describing it as “really productive.”

Detailing their time together, Tomlin said, “We had a really productive day. He’s been in this thing a long time. I’ve been in this thing a long time,” acknowledging the value of building personal rapport away from the pressures of the sport.

“But there’s no substitute for intimacy and spending time together and getting to know one another in a non-competitive environment. So, that was really good. But I don’t have any new updates in terms of where the process is. We’ll see where it leads us.”