Tony Stark in the suit? Thought he was untouchable. Dom Toretto behind the wheel? Clutch every time. Tom Brady with one shot left at the ring? GOAT stuff. And Pat McAfee breaking Aaron Rodgers’ news before any insider? That’s no accident. He’s got an edge. He’s got AJ Hawk. So, all the noise about whether ‘The Pat McAfee Show’ would reveal that AR’s going to Pittsburgh or not might as well be real.
That’s the news. Really! A mic’d-up announcement, allegedly set to go down at Pat McAfee’s Big Night AHT in Pittsburgh. Wednesday night. Live. Loud. And maybe, one that shakes the Steel City. For some, that is the dream scenario. For others, that’s a ‘Ah, sh*t, here we go again!’ moment waiting to happen. But why? Because the dots seem too clean to ignore.
Let’s rewind. A.J. Hawk—Rodgers’ old Packers teammate and longtime friend—has been feeding the narrative without actually feeding it. He’s on McAfee’s set every week, and he’s been dropping subtle gems like, “Rodgers really loves the Pittsburgh staff.” Not vague love either—Hawk doubled down on the front office, the culture, the whole damn vibe. And if there’s one person who knows what Rodgers is up to before Schefty, it’s Hawk.
But just like any other NFL story flirting with the ‘if & buts’, there’s a swerve. Enter Mark Kaboly. Steelers insider. Another McAfee show regular. However, he’s not drinking the Rodgers-at-the-event Kool-Aid. “If you’re going there [Pat McAfee’s event] to see Aaron Rodgers, I think you’re probably going to be disappointed,” he said. Then went on X and made it even clearer—they might have already decided this thing, just haven’t announced.
If Aaron Rodgers to the #Steelers isn’t announced at Pat McAfee’s show in Pittsburgh, the story of the night will be what DIDN’T happen rather than what did.
I don’t think Pat McAfee stands for that. All signs point to it happening Wednesday night. pic.twitter.com/mC5Dlb7i51
— Steelers Blitz (@Steelers_Blitz) April 7, 2025
Still, the Steelers brass isn’t exactly sweating bullets. Art Rooney II flat out said Rodgers working out with DK Metcalf was a “good sign.” He added, “All signs are positive.” I mean, coming from a guy who knows more than he’s letting on, it seems a bit too past ‘done’ already. Same with Mike Tomlin. Same with Omar Khan. It’s like everyone inside the building knows the answer—but they’re all playing it cool like it’s a fourth-and-2 chess match.
Even Ian Rapoport’s been reading the signs. “I’d be very surprised if it wasn’t the Steelers if he plays,” he said. Translation: unless Rodgers suddenly wakes up and decides to retire on a beach in Malibu, Pittsburgh’s got this thing lined up. Daniel Jeremiah also threw a twist in—if for some reason Rodgers doesn’t pull the trigger before the draft, guys like Shedeur Sanders and Jaxson Dart could be in play at pick 21. We’d throw in another by saying, AR’s inclusion doesn’t affect who they’re going to draft. Because the rookies might just be learning from A-Rod’s flirting tactics.
The QB room of Shedeur Sanders and A-Rod in Steel City?
Imagine walking into the Steelers’ QB room and seeing Aaron Rodgers and Shedeur Sanders sitting side by side. And let me tell you, that could be real. The Steelers just locked in a Top 30 visit with the Colorado star, and it didn’t take long for Shedeur to respond. One word. Just one. “Legendary,” he posted on his Instagram story. No filters. No emojis. Just that one word. Because he might just be interested as well.
Now, you might be wondering—what’s the play here? The Steelers already have Rodgers in their crosshairs, right? But that doesn’t mean they’re blind to the future. Mike Tomlin and the front office are doing their homework, and Sanders isn’t just another name on the board. He’s a projected first-rounder with NFL blood in his veins, and the swagger to back it up. Shedeur’s not just a project—he’s a personality. And let’s be honest, Pittsburgh hasn’t had that kind of flavor under center in a while.
Also, think about this: Shedeur getting mentored by A-Rod? That’s a Netflix series waiting to happen. One’s a four-time MVP who plays chess on the field, the other’s got prime-time DNA and just called a meeting with the Steelers “legendary.” You don’t throw that word around unless you’re feeling it. And clearly, he is.
Sure, the Steelers are sniffing around other QBs too—Jaxson Dart, Tyler Shough, all coming through for visits. And you might say, ‘C’mon one day it’s Shedeur’s draft stocks plummeting, the next minute, it’s hyping him up.’ So, what’s giving? Well, Shedeur as a top draft pick is what the fans can’t swallow. But the Steelers at 21? It might play right into his hands as well because then he can leverage that to write his own underdog story.
Plus, the fact Pittsburgh’s bringing him in says they’re not playing it safe. They’re building for right now and whatever comes after. Rodgers may be Plan A—but if Plan B wears No. 2 and walks in with that Deion-level confidence? That QB room might just be the most watched in the league.
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