Aaron Rodgers appears to have been spotted for the first time since it emerged that the New York Jets are getting rid of him and ending his two-year run as the team’s quarterback.
The 41-year-old was tagged in an image by Proactive Sports Performance, a California-based fitness program that players from across the NFL attend in the offseason.
And one other who was there at the same time as the quarterback was DeShon Elliott of the Pittsburgh Steelers who, until now, has never seemed to be a big Rodgers fan.
Only last week, he responded to social media speculation that the Steelers could be interested in a move for Rodgers in free agency by saying: ‘Leave his ass at the retirement home.’
And when Elliott was at the Detroit Lions, he accused Rodgers of disrespect in January 2023 before the Lions beat the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field to end their hopes of making the playoffs. It ended up being Rodgers’ final game for the Packers, with him eventually getting his trade to New York.
Proactive Sports Performance shared the image of Rodgers and Elliott posing together, with Rodgers pointing at Elliott who was smiling and give two thumbs up, with the caption: ‘Who is gonna retire first?’
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Aaron Rodgers in a picture with DeShon Elliott at California’s Proactive Sports Performance
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Rodgers is searching for a new team after the New York Jets announced plans to cut him
While it doesn’t specifically say when the picture was taken, a separate post on PSP’s Instagram account shows that Elliott was already at the facility.
But given that Rodgers has visited PSP on multiple occasions stretching across many years, it isn’t impossible that it was taken another time.
What is certain, though, is that Rodgers is now at a big moment in his NFL career.
The Super Bowl winner is expected to play on, as long as a team with realistic postseason credentials wants him.
And provided that the image with Elliott is recent, the fact he is working out rather than on the beach suggests he is getting in shape for another run in 2025.
The Steelers, who made the playoffs before losing to Baltimore Ravens in the first round, could be one of those teams considering Rodgers despite Elliott’s previous comments.
Both the quarterbacks on their roster, Justin Fields and Russell Wilson, are out of contract and the organization has a serious decision to make about their signal caller.
Rodgers has yet to speak publicly following the decision from the Jets. He failed to lead the team to the playoffs last season and the year before, only played four snaps of his first game against Buffalo Bills before tearing his Achilles and missing the season.
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Rodgers departs New York after two seasons where the team failed to make the playoffs
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Rodgers, 41, is expected to keep playing as long as the right opportunity presents itself
The Jets, for their part, paid tribute to Rodgers when announcing their plans to eventually cut him as part of new head coach Aaron Glenn’s rebuild.
Owner Woody Johnson said: ‘personally want to thank Aaron for his time at the New York Jets.
‘His arrival in 2023 was met with unbridled excitement and I will forever be grateful that he chose to join us to continue his Hall of Fame career. From day one, he embodied all that it meant to be a New York Jet, embraced our fans, and immersed himself in our city.
‘That is what I will remember most when I look back at his time here. He will always be welcome, and I wish him only the best in whatever he chooses to do next.’
The Steelers are far from the only possible landing spot for Rodgers, although other options will inevitably have varying degrees of appeal.
The Browns and the Titans, who both failed to make the playoffs and have high Draft picks later this year, also have vacancies at QB, as do the Las Vegas Raiders.
