Rooney says Steelers remain in regular contact with Rodgers

Pittsburgh Steelers proprietor and president Art Rooney II stays assured Aaron Rodgers would be the staff’s quarterback in 2026, however he mentioned Wednesday the membership utilized the hardly ever used UFA have a tendency on him to verify it will safe a compensatory decide “in the unlikely event he goes somewhere else.”

“The main thing that the tender gives us is potential for a comp pick if Aaron would choose to go to another team,” Rooney II mentioned in an interview on NFL Network. “We don’t expect that, but by the same token, you never know. And it’s just something that we had an opportunity to protect if needed.

“…And so not an actual huge deal, however simply one thing that if in the unlikely occasion that he goes someplace else, we’re eligible for a comp decide in that state of affairs.”

In the team’s first public comments since making the procedural move, Rooney II added that the Steelers had to make it by Monday’s deadline and that Rodgers and his representatives were informed of the decision.

Rooney II last gave a public update about Rodgers nearly a month ago at the league’s annual meetings in Arizona, where he expressed confidence the Steelers would receive an answer from the 42-year-old quarterback about his future through the NFL draft. That, however, didn’t happen.

Still, Rooney II said Wednesday he believes the ongoing saga will wrap up soon.

“We’ve been in contact with Aaron on a regular foundation,” he said. “He’s been retaining us updated on his plans. And although I assumed it most likely would have been concluded by now, I feel we are going to come to a conclusion right here in the subsequent few weeks.”