If anyone thought wrangling a quarterback like Aaron Rodgers would be easy, Thomas Tull just set the record straight- with a grin and a jab. The Pittsburgh Steelers minority owner, who joined the team’s ownership group in 2009, recently cracked a pointed joke while appearing on CNBC’s Power Lunch.
“I’m here to talk about AI, and that’s a more complex issue than artificial intelligence,” Tull said, referencing the Steelers’ ongoing discussions with Rodgers. It might’ve been a lighthearted moment, but the message came through loud and clear: dealing with Rodgers is no simple task.
Steelers’ QB Strategy Points Straight To Rodgers
Pittsburgh’s quarterback depth chart tells the story. Mason Rudolph, Skylar Thompson, and rookie Will Howard are the names currently in the room, none of whom are considered long-term starters. With that in mind, the Steelers appear to be banking on the possibility, however murky, of Rodgers suiting up in black and gold this season.
Reports suggest the Steelers’ draft decisions this year reflected that possibility. They avoided targeting a high-profile quarterback, signaling confidence or hope in landing the 41-year-old former MVP. The team is even reportedly mulling a trade for wide receiver Allen Lazard, Rodgers’ longtime friend and former teammate.
Rodgers, however, isn’t making anything easy. In a recent appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, he offered a winding, personal take on his future. “I’m open to anything and attached to nothing,” Rodgers said. “Retirement could still be a possibility… I have personal commitments… I’m in a serious relationship… I have people in my circle battling difficult stuff.”
In other words, the four-time MVP keeps his options open, and football isn’t his only priority. Despite coming off a forgettable year with the New York Jets- a 5-12 season marred by dysfunction and staff turnover- Rodgers still carries weight in the league. He completed 63 percent of his passes for nearly 3,900 yards, along with 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Not his best, but certainly serviceable for a team in quarterback limbo.
The Steelers, it seems, are willing to navigate Rodgers’ unpredictability in hopes of tapping into what he still has left. But as Tull hinted, managing Rodgers might take more than just cap space and patience- it may take a playbook no one’s written yet.