Cameron Heyward wants Aaron Rodgers back in Pittsburgh, and he said it plainly Friday on the Rich Eisen Show: “He’s worn the black and gold. Just return, baby!” With five days left before the draft, the Steelers are still waiting for a decision from the four-time Most Valuable Player, and Heyward made clear he thinks the answer should be yes.
“That’s all we need,” Heyward said. “I think he had a fun time being a part of this crew and we really enjoyed his company. I’d like to be able to run it back.” Pittsburgh won its first AFC North title since 2020 in Rodgers’ first season with the team, and Heyward said the quarterback was “a breath of fresh air” in the way he handled his business. He said Rodgers was accountable, held others accountable, loved the game and studied football intensely.
Heyward also said the choice, at this stage of Rodgers’ career, comes down to commitment. Last offseason, he said on his podcast that “either you want to be a Pittsburgh Steeler or you don't” while the decision dragged into June, and on Friday he again sounded as if the franchise had already shown enough patience. Pittsburgh has a history of waiting on bigger questions than this one, and Jerome Bettis has said the team can wait on Aaron Rodgers, too.
There is still a practical reason the Steelers want clarity now. Art Rooney II said on March 31 at the Annual League Meeting that he expects an answer by the draft, and if Rodgers returns he would be entering his age-43 season and a 22nd NFL campaign. The roster around him would not be the same one he knew last year, either: the team traded for Michael Pittman to help complement DK Metcalf in the passing game and signed Rico Dowdle to pair with Jaylen Warren.
That leaves the Steelers with one simple problem and one familiar kind of suspense. Rodgers has often made career decisions late, and Heyward seemed almost amused by the delay, joking that his teammate might be on a darkness retreat, shooting season two of Enigma or getting ready for Jeopardy. “My guy can do a lot of different things, but he’ll be ready for the season hopefully,” Heyward said. For now, Pittsburgh is waiting to find out whether Rodgers will give them the answer Rooney said he wanted by the draft.
