Packers head coach Matt LaFleur has bold prediction on whether Aaron Rodgers will be playing for Steelers in 2025

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Aaron Rodgers is still not a Pittsburgh Steeler.
But Rodgers' former head coach in Green Bay fully expects him to be very soon.
"I certainly see that coming to fruition here, pretty shortly," Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said at the end of his nearly 35-minute conversation with NBC Sports' Chris Simms May 15 on the "Chris Simms Unbuttoned" podcast.
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Rodgers continues to be a free agent after the New York Jets released him following two seasons. But the Steelers are a favorite to land Rodgers if he decides to play again.
The four-time NFL MVP last said on "The Pat McAfee Show" in April that he's "open to anything and attached to nothing" while keeping the lines of communication open with the Steelers, a team he met with in late March.
Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said he fully expects Aaron Rodgers to play for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2025. LaFleur coached Rodgers from 2019-22.
Will the Packers game vs Steelers in 2025 include Aaron Rodgers?
The NFL clearly believes that Rodgers, too, will be in Pittsburgh. While a Green Bay vs. Pittsburgh game can certainly stand on its own as two of the most storied franchises, the NFL put their 2025 matchup on "Sunday Night Football" in Week 8 on Oct. 26 clearly expecting, or at least hoping, Rodgers is there and playing against his old team.
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Simms asked LaFleur for his reaction if Rodgers signs with the Steelers.
"Well, I'm anticipating that happening," LaFleur said. "So, I won't be surprised."
Why is LaFleur so confident that Rodgers will be continuing his Hall of Fame career?
"I just can't see him not playing the game of football this year," LaFleur said.
Rodgers' tenure with the Jets never lived up to the hype after he departed Green Bay in 2023. A torn Achilles in the first game of the 2023 season ended his year and the Jets' hopes. Then, in 2024, despite Rodgers back under center for the whole year, the team was a disaster and finished 5-12.
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Aaron Rodgers to the Steelers?
LaFleur said Rodgers playing for the Steelers "obviously makes the most sense."
The team is in need of an established quarterback to go with its top-of-the-line defense. Plus, LaFleur noted Rodgers has respect for the Steelers' longtime head coach Mike Tomlin.
Rodgers last publicly commented on his future about a month ago on "The Pat McAfee Show" and said he wasn't in a position to sign on for a 21st season.
"I'm in a different phase of my life," said Rodgers, in response to some in the media feeling he's holding the Steelers hostage. "I'm 41 years old. I'm in a serious relationship. I have off-the-field stuff going on that requires my attention. I have personal commitments I've made not knowing what my future holds.
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"I have a couple people in my inner, inner circle that are really battling some difficult stuff. So I have a lot of things that are taking my attention away from football and that's been where I've been focusing most of my attention on. To make a commitment to a team is a big thing."
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Matt LaFleur on Aaron Rodgers
LaFleur coached Rodgers for four seasons (2019-22) and the partnership was a success. Coming off a 6-9-1 season the year before, the Packers went to the NFC Championship Game in consecutive years in 2019 and 2020 and then had the NFC's top record in 2021. Rodgers won league MVP honors in 2020 and 2021.
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Asked what he learned from Rodgers, LaFleur said: "You learn so much going through it together. You can't discount a guy of his talent, his experiences and just the way he thinks about the game. There's been a lot of things that, quite honestly, that he's helped shape some of my beliefs in terms of how I look at offensive football as well."
Rodgers has often talked glowingly about his time with LaFleur.
"I thought it was a great partnership," LaFleur said. "Certainly, there were some moments of struggle but in anything when you have people who are convicted about what they are doing and are passionate and care it's usually for the betterment of the team. And we kind of helped each other in that regard."
If Rodgers does sign with the Steelers and plays against the Packers this season, will LaFleur have to change signals?
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LaFleur said Rodgers is as smart as they come so he would have to be ready for anything.
"You have to be careful communicating because he picks up everything," LaFleur said. "I haven't been around too many guys who can focus (like him). I swear he can focus on three things at once and take it all in. It's pretty impressive when you watch it."
Watch Matt LaFleur talk Aaron Rodgers, Jordan Love and more with Chris Simms
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Packers head coach Matt LaFleur on Aaron Rodgers' future and Steelers