Aaron Rodgers has yet to block off sixth months from his calendar to devote his time to the Pittsburgh Steelers next season. The organization remains patient, as new head coach Mike McCarthy has supported the veteran quarterback's decision-making process.
Ex-Steelers offensive tackle Trai Essex has grown tired of waiting.
"I'm over it," Essex said earlier this week on "The Snap Count" podcast. "I'm just tired of the whole back-and-forth. Either he's coming or he's not. And if he's not — and even if he's taking his time to make his decision — I don't wanna hear about it anymore. Who do we have in the building right now? Who is a Pittsburgh Steeler right now? That's who I wanna hear about. I wanna hear about Will Howard and his development. I wanna hear about what Mason (Rudolph) has to done to put himself in the mix.
"And I wanna hear who we have projected to perhaps add to the room if A-Rod decides to retire, because, quite frankly, he could make that decision and not come back at all. And then we're left holding our ass again because he decided to retire. … Why do we need to keep on talking about this?"
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers in a game against the Houston Texans on Jan. 12, 2026. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
Essex, a third-round pick in the 2005 NFL Draft, played in 74 games for the Steelers from 2005-11.
Rodgers went 10-6 as the Steelers' starting quarterback last season, passing for 3,322 yards, 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He said during an appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show" earlier this month that the Steelers didn't have a deal for him on the table yet.
In more of a joking manner, former longtime Steelers signal-caller Ben Roethlisberger also recently urged Rodgers to make up his mind.
"Aaron, just let us know, man. You know you can do that?" Roethlisberger said on his "Footbahlin" podcast. "You could just say, 'Hey, I'm coming back."
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : Former Steelers Lineman Fed Up with Aaron Rodgers Wait: 'I'm Over It'
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