Two decades after being drafted by the Green Bay Packers, Aaron Rodgers is now officially a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Interestingly, this transition brings to light that Rodgers could have originally been a Steeler when he first entered the NFL in 2005.
Doug Whaley, former pro personnel director for the Steelers, revealed in a recent interview that the team had Rodgers highly rated on their draft board and were closely monitoring his unexpected slide down the draft that year.
Steelers Surprised By Rodgers Draft Slide But Committed To Rising Star Roethlisberger
Whaley mentioned during his appearance on 93.7 The Fan that Pittsburgh was surprised Rodgers fell so far in the 2005 NFL Draft. The Steelers, picking 30th overall, did not expect Rodgers to still be available by their selection. Although they didn’t attempt to trade up, the team had Rodgers ranked higher than where he was ultimately taken by Green Bay at No. 24. With Rodgers off the board, the Steelers selected tight end Heath Miller instead.
Aaron Rodgers (NFL)One of the main reasons the Steelers likely didn’t aggressively pursue Rodgers was the presence of Ben Roethlisberger, their first-round pick from the previous year. Roethlisberger had already delivered an outstanding rookie season, leading Pittsburgh to a 15-1 record and an appearance in the AFC Championship.
Investing in another first-round quarterback so soon would have been highly unconventional, even if Rodgers was viewed as a top-tier talent.
Rodgers And Roethlisberger Paths Cross Again In Long-Awaited Steelers Chapter
Though Rodgers is widely regarded as the superior passer, Roethlisberger’s legacy includes two Super Bowl victories. Ironically, Rodgers and Roethlisberger faced off in Super Bowl XLV, where Rodgers led the Packers to victory over the Steelers.
Despite Roethlisberger’s championship wins, his individual performance in the Steelers’ first Super Bowl win under his leadership was underwhelming, suggesting Rodgers may have offered a different trajectory had he landed in Pittsburgh.
The NFL world will now get a rare opportunity to see Rodgers in a Steelers uniform, a full 20 years after that near miss. With Roethlisberger retired since 2021, the timing for this unexpected move aligns with a new era for Pittsburgh. While we’ll never know how Rodgers would have developed in the Steelers system from the beginning, all eyes will be on how he performs in 2025, closing a long, speculative chapter with real answers on the field.
