.jpg)
9 hours ago
1
The 2025 NFL schedule was officially released last week, and folks were curious to see how the Pittsburgh Steelers slate of games looked given their murky situation with Aaron Rodgers. Even with a questionable quarterback situation, the Steelers received several big prime time games, and their former star quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, believes he knows why.
Generally speaking, the NFL configures their schedule to give their most popular teams more prime time games. Of course, the caveat is that those teams have to be good as well, so it was noteworthy to see Pittsburgh get four primetime games for the 2025 campaign.
The league has claimed that Rodgers' continued link to the Steelers didn't play a role in the creation of their 2025 schedule, but Roethlisberger disagrees with that notion. He cited the team's Week 8 Sunday Night Football clash with the Green Bay Packers, Rodgers' former team, as a blatant example of the league setting up this matchup with the future Hall of Fame quarterback in mind.
"I know the league came out and said it had nothing to do with Aaron Rodgers, more about Mike Tomlin," Roethlisberger said on "Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger." "I disagree with them. I think they're lying. They want Aaron to be in that game, obviously."
After getting released by the New York Jets (who Pittsburgh opens their season against), Rodgers has been heavily linked to the Steelers in free agency. However, to this point, he has yet to make a decision on his future, as it seems like he will either retire or sign with Pittsburgh.
While the NFL said they aren't planning on Rodgers signing or retiring, Roethlisberger disagrees. Regardless of the league's motive, it's clear that their decision to give the Steelers four primetime games hinges on Rodgers' decision, and his future remains one of the biggest storylines in all of sports.
English (US)