Aaron Rodgers Gets Recruiting Message from Cardinals WR Amid Steelers Buzz
The Pittsburgh Steelers are still waiting on a decision from Super Bowl-winning quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who is contemplating his free agency this offseason.
Rodgers joined Pittsburgh last season and led them to the postseason, but got eliminated in the first round by the Houston Texans. Once that AFC Wild Card game ended, questions immediately swirled regarding Rodgers’ future in the NFL.
Head coach Mike Tomlin resigned after the season, ending his time with the team after 19 seasons, including a Super Bowl win. Adding to the intrigue of potentially keeping Rodgers for another season, the Steelers hired his former Green Bay Packers coach, Mike McCarthy, as their new head coach.
And there has been speculation that Rodgers could retire from the league or join another squad. Could that be the Arizona Cardinals?
More news:Packers Coach Sends Strong Message on Jordan Love for NFL Season
Their wide receiver, Kendrick Bourne, seems to be getting involved in a pitch to bring Rodgers to the roster. That comes as Arizona features a quarterback group that includes Jacoby Brissett, Gardner Minshew, and recent draft pick Carson Beck.
“@AaronRodgers12 Come on we waiting on you,” Bourne wrote in his X message to the multi-time NFL MVP on Tuesday.
After spending his 10 seasons playing for the San Francisco 49ers and New England Patriots, Bourne is a new member of the Cardinals’ receiving corps, so he probably wants the benefit of having a quarterback like Rodgers.
Before joining the Steelers, Rodgers attempted a two-season stint as quarterback of the New York Jets, with him and the team believing they’d become a contender. That move didn’t work out so well: he suffered a season-ending injury in his first season there, followed by a 5-12 campaign the next season.
More news:Adam Schefter Shuts Down Aaron Rodgers, Steelers Rumor
He did much better in Pittsburgh, potentially due to having a better roster and a veteran coach in Tomlin. Still, he was unable to get them past the Wild Card round in the AFC, and getting the Cardinals to the postseason might be tougher at the moment.
Several months ago, Arizona hired former Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Mike LaFleur as its new head coach after firing Jonathan Gannon. The Cardinals also made waves by drafting Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love in the NFL Draft as the No. 3 pick.
Love is a top-tier talent who should take a lot of pressure off whoever is playing quarterback for Arizona, but he could also need time to acclimate to the NFL.
There was speculation ahead of the draft that Arizona might try to get Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson. However, Simpson went before they could get the chance, as the Los Angeles Rams took him with their No. 13 pick.
Arizona may want an elite QB like Rodgers rather than wait for next year’s draft, which should have plenty of talented quarterbacks.
Rodgers previously stated, on "The Pat McAfee Show," that there was no contract offer yet and no “deadline” set for his free-agency decision. However, the Steelers will want an answer sooner rather than later.
It would certainly be surprising to see Rodgers opt for a team like Arizona that seems farther from the playoffs than the Jets were when he joined their roster. Still, he may want to finish out his career in another location and attempt to help a different coach and teammates succeed before retiring.
Read more:Fernando Mendoza Could Help This Raiders Receiver Have Breakout Season
For more about the NFL, head over to Newsweek Sports.
2026 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
This story was originally published May 5, 2026 at 2:40 PM.