As the 2025 NFL schedule was announced, whispers around the league grew louder: Is Aaron Rodgers heading to Pittsburgh? While fans speculated and headlines exploded, the league itself remained firmly neutral. The Pittsburgh Steelers’ Week 1 matchup against the New York Jets—the team Rodgers called home for two years—was placed in a standard 1 p.m. CBS slot, alongside seven other games. This raised more eyebrows than cheers.
Did Aaron Rodgers help shape the NFL's Week 1 schedule? Here's what the league revealed
“We probably would’ve scheduled that game for a national television window,” said Mike North, NFL vice president of broadcast planning, in an interview with CBS Sports. “At worst, it’s Justin Fields against his old team. At best, it’s Aaron Rodgers going up against one of his old teams... If we knew something, I think you would’ve seen it reflected in the schedule.”
This candid statement cleared up one thing: the NFL doesn’t have any insider scoop on Rodgers’ next move. Still, the schedule has been crafted with a hint of “what if.” The Steelers notched four primetime games this season, and their quarterback room—currently featuring Mason Rudolph, Will Howard, and Skylar Thompson—doesn't exactly scream box-office attraction. But toss Aaron Rodgers into that mix, and suddenly, you're looking at must-see television.
The intrigue deepens when you look at Week 8. The Steelers are set to face the Green Bay Packers, Rodgers’ former team of 18 seasons, under the Sunday Night Football spotlight. North didn’t shy away from admitting Rodgers was a factor in this scheduling decision.
“If it fell on a Sunday afternoon, for instance, it becomes a dominant story of the day, Aaron’s first game against his old team,” North said. “So put it in a national window… If Aaron’s not the quarterback, it’s still Packers-Steelers Sunday Night Football.”
Rodgers’ presence alone elevates a game’s narrative and market value. His potential debut in Pittsburgh would not only give the Steelers a seasoned playmaker under center, but also reshape the AFC North power structure. But for now, it's all still hypothetical. The team hasn’t announced a starting quarterback, and while speculation runs wild, nothing is official. Even North reiterated, “We don’t know anything more than anybody else.”
Still, the signs suggest Pittsburgh is banking on Rodgers. After all, with the NFL Draft and major free agency moves behind them, the Steelers haven't aggressively pursued another big-name quarterback. What they have done, though, is bolster their receiving corps, adding DK Metcalf and Robert Woods—potentially gearing up for a veteran passer who thrives with savvy wideouts.
Back in Pittsburgh, fans are caught in limbo. A Week 1 grudge match against the Jets could have been the perfect stage for a Rodgers debut. But without confirmation, it stays tucked in the early afternoon lineup, rather than the bright lights of prime time. Yet the league isn’t ruling out Rodgers lighting up those later weeks.
North summed it up best: “The schedule was built for Coach Tomlin and for the Steelers. If Aaron decides to play, it probably just makes many, if not all, the Steelers games a little more interesting.”
As it stands, the chessboard is set. The NFL has done its part by planting storylines and opening doors. Now, all eyes shift to Aaron Rodgers. Will he walk through the one the Steelers seem to be holding wide open?
Only time will tell. But one thing’s certain—if Rodgers does land in Pittsburgh, the entire league will be watching.
Also Read: Rob Gronkowski offers no-nonsense advice to Bill Belichick amid buzz around his girlfriend Jordon Hudson
Did Aaron Rodgers help shape the NFL's Week 1 schedule? Here's what the league revealed
“We probably would’ve scheduled that game for a national television window,” said Mike North, NFL vice president of broadcast planning, in an interview with CBS Sports. “At worst, it’s Justin Fields against his old team. At best, it’s Aaron Rodgers going up against one of his old teams... If we knew something, I think you would’ve seen it reflected in the schedule.”
This candid statement cleared up one thing: the NFL doesn’t have any insider scoop on Rodgers’ next move. Still, the schedule has been crafted with a hint of “what if.” The Steelers notched four primetime games this season, and their quarterback room—currently featuring Mason Rudolph, Will Howard, and Skylar Thompson—doesn't exactly scream box-office attraction. But toss Aaron Rodgers into that mix, and suddenly, you're looking at must-see television.
The Jets' full schedule has been released 🏈
— Jets Videos (@snyjets) May 15, 2025
Week 1: vs. Steelers (1 p.m.)
Week 2: vs. Bills (1 p.m.)
Week 3: at Buccaneers (1 p.m.)
Week 4: at Dolphins (7:15 p.m - Monday Night Football)
Week 5: vs. Cowboys (1 p.m.)
Week 6: Broncos (9:30 a.m. - London)
Week 7: vs. Panthers (1… pic.twitter.com/Rq1F7zUjRr
The intrigue deepens when you look at Week 8. The Steelers are set to face the Green Bay Packers, Rodgers’ former team of 18 seasons, under the Sunday Night Football spotlight. North didn’t shy away from admitting Rodgers was a factor in this scheduling decision.
“If it fell on a Sunday afternoon, for instance, it becomes a dominant story of the day, Aaron’s first game against his old team,” North said. “So put it in a national window… If Aaron’s not the quarterback, it’s still Packers-Steelers Sunday Night Football.”
Rodgers’ presence alone elevates a game’s narrative and market value. His potential debut in Pittsburgh would not only give the Steelers a seasoned playmaker under center, but also reshape the AFC North power structure. But for now, it's all still hypothetical. The team hasn’t announced a starting quarterback, and while speculation runs wild, nothing is official. Even North reiterated, “We don’t know anything more than anybody else.”
"It does appear that the NFL believes Aaron Rodgers will be the starting quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Otherwise, why would they put they put the Steelers in the home of the New York Jets Week 1?"
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 15, 2025
Rich Eisen looks at the Steelers schedule. pic.twitter.com/6aSAKRafhp
Still, the signs suggest Pittsburgh is banking on Rodgers. After all, with the NFL Draft and major free agency moves behind them, the Steelers haven't aggressively pursued another big-name quarterback. What they have done, though, is bolster their receiving corps, adding DK Metcalf and Robert Woods—potentially gearing up for a veteran passer who thrives with savvy wideouts.
Back in Pittsburgh, fans are caught in limbo. A Week 1 grudge match against the Jets could have been the perfect stage for a Rodgers debut. But without confirmation, it stays tucked in the early afternoon lineup, rather than the bright lights of prime time. Yet the league isn’t ruling out Rodgers lighting up those later weeks.
North summed it up best: “The schedule was built for Coach Tomlin and for the Steelers. If Aaron decides to play, it probably just makes many, if not all, the Steelers games a little more interesting.”
As it stands, the chessboard is set. The NFL has done its part by planting storylines and opening doors. Now, all eyes shift to Aaron Rodgers. Will he walk through the one the Steelers seem to be holding wide open?
Only time will tell. But one thing’s certain—if Rodgers does land in Pittsburgh, the entire league will be watching.
Also Read: Rob Gronkowski offers no-nonsense advice to Bill Belichick amid buzz around his girlfriend Jordon Hudson
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