Aaron Rodgers’ Shocking Comeback Timeline: How His Achilles Return Could Reshape the Jets and the 2025 NFL Season

Minutes after NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero broke the news that four-time MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers will sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers, the franchise’s quarterback landscape — and the entire AFC North race — changed overnight. Below is everything fans, fantasy managers and analysts need to know about the blockbuster move and what it means for 2025. The agreement and expected contract structure Rodgers is flying to Pittsburgh on Friday to finalize a deal that league sources say has been “in place for months.” While financial terms have not yet been filed with the league office, insiders expect a heavily incentive-laden two-year pact that keeps the Steelers’ cap flexibility intact for 2025. The 41-year-old passer is also slated to report to mandatory minicamp next week, giving offensive coordinator Arthur Smith a full summer to install tweaks around Rodgers’ quick-strike preferences. Why Pittsburgh was always the favorite • Face-to-face meeting: Rodgers visited the Steelers’ facility on March 28, and head coach Mike Tomlin described the discussion as “productive,” a rare public endorsement during free agency. • QB urgency: Pittsburgh has reached the playoffs in four of the last five seasons but has cycled through Kenny Pickett, Mitch Trubisky and Mason Rudolph without finding a long-term answer. • Draft clues: Passing on a first-round quarterback in April and waiting until Round 6 for Ohio State’s Will Howard signaled confidence that a veteran plan was already forming. What Rodgers still brings at age 41 In his comeback season with the New York Jets, Rodgers posted 18 TDs, 4 INTs and a 97.0 passer rating over his final 10 games after returning from an Achilles tear, numbers that convinced front offices he can still elevate a roster built to win now. He enters 2025 ranked: • No. 9 all-time in passing yards (62,952) • No. 5 all-time in touchdown passes (503) • No. 1 all-time in career passer rating among qualified QBs (102.6) A retooled Steelers offense Pittsburgh traded top wideout George Pickens to Dallas for premium draft capital but still offers Rodgers a compelling supporting cast: • WR: DK Metcalf, speedy rookie Zay Flowers and dependable slot man Calvin Austin III. • RB: Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren, an underrated receiving threat. • TE: Pat Freiermuth, poised for a volume spike in the middle of the field. • OL: First-round tackle Troy Fautanu headlines an overhauled front five that surrendered just 26 sacks last season. How the move reshapes the AFC North The division already features Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson and Deshaun Watson, but Rodgers’ arrival adds another Super Bowl-proven arm to a group that sent three teams to the postseason last year. Early Vegas odds moved Pittsburgh from +3500 to +1800 to win Super Bowl LX soon after reports surfaced, while the Steelers’ regular-season win total jumped from 8.5 to 10. Legacy parallels with Brett Favre Rodgers’ career arc now mirrors that of his predecessor in Green Bay: legendary stint with the Packers, one season with the Jets, and a late-career push with a third franchise chasing one more championship ring. Favre reached the NFC title game with Minnesota at 40; Pittsburgh believes Rodgers can author a similar encore in black and gold. Next dates to circle • June 11-13: mandatory minicamp — Rodgers’ first on-field reps with new teammates • July 24: veterans report to Latrobe for the Steelers’ fan-famous training camp • Preseason Week 1 vs. Eagles: Rodgers’ Steel City debut (barring load management) • Sept. 7 at Bengals: Regular-season opener that could set an immediate tone in the division Bottom line The Steelers have spent three seasons searching for the heir to Ben Roethlisberger. By luring Aaron Rodgers, they didn’t just find a bridge; they found a future Hall of Famer motivated to write one last chapter. If Rodgers stays healthy and clicks quickly with Tomlin’s culture, Pittsburgh’s Lombardi drought dating back to 2008 suddenly looks breakable.