CBS Sports’ Aditi Kinkhabwala Not Convinced Aaron Rodgers Lands With The Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers have not won a playoff game since 2016.

Most head coaches would have been fired over this, but not Mike Tomlin.

The current starting quarterback on the roster is Mason Rudolph. The Steelers are patiently waiting for Aaron Rodgers to decide on his future.

While many think Rodgers will land with the Steelers, CBS Sports’ Aditi Kinkhabwala is not convinced.

Aditi Kinkhabwala’s Thoughts On Art Rooney’s Comments Regarding Rodgers At Owner’s Meeting

Kinkhabwala stated on 93.7 The Fan Pittsburgh when asked about Art Rooney’s comments at the owner’s meeting regarding Rodgers, “it’s definitely not how I would have played it by any means. I mean if he’s trying to put pressure on Aaron Rodgers, which is what we must assume, right, why else would he say that, then you wonder, why would that work when that has never worked with Aaron Rodgers and doesn’t really seem to be the way that Aaron Rodgers has operated his entire career in the National Football League.”

Aditi Kinkhabwala mentioned she spoke with a GM who knows Rodgers well, and the GM would not tell her anything that would jeopardize anything with Rodgers. She said, “This GM said Aaron Rodgers does not like his business aired out in public. Aaron Rodgers doesn’t like people talking about him. Aaron Rodgers doesn’t want people assuming anything about him, and therefore, I am going to make sure that there is no way that any sort of leak could come back to me. And now you have Art Rooney trying to put pressure on him and saying make a decision already.”

She repeated what she said a few weeks ago on the radio, that only four or fewer people know what is going on with Rodgers.

ESPN’s Brooke Pryor highlighted Rooney’s comments on Rodgers with the following posts.

Art Rooney II said he feels there are “positive signs” with the Steelers’ pursuit of Aaron Rodgers

— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) April 1, 2025

Are you content to wait on Aaron Rodgers?

Art Rooney II: “Not forever, but a little while longer.”

— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) April 1, 2025

Did Art Rooney envision this process with Aaron Rodgers taking so long?

Rooney: “No. Didn’t envision it taking this long.”

— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) April 1, 2025

Art Rooney II of Aaron Rodgers: “We keep hearing that he’s, I guess, headed in our direction, and so that seems to be all signs are positive so far.”

Rooney II said it was a “good sign” Rodgers wanted to throw with DK Metcalf over the weekend.

— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) April 1, 2025

The two comments that felt Rooney was pressuring Rodgers were when asked if he is content on waiting for Rodgers, he replied, “not forever, but a little while longer,” and when he said he didn’t envision it taking this long.

It still didn’t feel like Rooney was putting much pressure on Rodgers to decide. He was answering questions regarding Rodgers, and it did not come off as putting pressure. If anything, it feels like the Steelers have been very patient waiting for Rodgers.

Kinkhabwala Is Still Not Convinced Rodgers Lands With The Steelers

When asked if she still has some skepticism that Rodgers ends up in Pittsburgh, Kinkhabwala replied, “I do. I think that we have talked about this the last few weeks. I think it was you Mullsy that asked if it was a done deal then wouldn’t it have already happened and I said to some degree yes but I also questioned how much of an appetite for driving and meeting and pushing a team Aaron Rodgers has right now as opposed to stepping into a situation like Minnesota where the train is moving. Everybody is professional. Justin Jefferson is a professional of a superstar as you can get.” She continued, “The Steelers right now are just not that team. On offense, they need a push. They need leadership. We’ve heard Najee Harris say this. We’ve heard Willie Colon say this.”

The Steelers do need leadership on offense. They have let George Pickens get away with everything. Rodgers would step in and not let Pickens get away with what Tomlin has.

As for her skepticism, they are legitimate feelings. Nothing is official till it is official. If Rodgers were truly anxious to be on the Steelers, it would have happened already. Pittsburgh has an offer on the table and is waiting for him to make a decision. Whether Rodgers is still holding out hope for Minnesota or thinking about retiring, it does not seem he is overly thrilled to join Pittsburgh.

Kinkhabwala On Metcalf & Rodgers Throwing Session

Kinkhabwala was asked about the Metcalf and Rodgers throwing session, she replied, “I mean, I think Aaron Rodgers is a master manipulator. I like him a lot, I said that over and over again. We’ve had fantastic meetings with him. Our CBS crew has. We’ve had some tremendous conversations, but I also think that Aaron has a good time laughing at everybody. And I think that he does certain things to get a rise out of other people and finds genuine amusement as people assume and chase their tales and read into certain things.”

This is one possibility, but would Metcalf, the newly acquired WR for the Steelers, be used as a pawn? It feels unlikely Pittsburgh or Metcalf would let this happen.