If you’ve spent any time on NFL Twitter or scrolled through sports rumors over the last year, you’ve probably seen the chatter. People were asking: did Aaron Rodgers sign with the Saints? It was a massive talking point during a chaotic offseason, especially when New Orleans found themselves in a sudden quarterback crisis.
The short answer? No, Aaron Rodgers did not sign with the New Orleans Saints. Honestly, the whole situation was a whirlwind of "what-ifs" and half-baked rumors. It’s one of those things where the logic made sense on paper for about five minutes, but the reality was a lot more complicated—and a lot more blunt.
The Rumors That Ignited New Orleans
So, where did this all come from? It wasn't just random fan fiction. Back in May 2025, the Saints were suddenly staring at a massive hole in their roster. Derek Carr had just announced his retirement following major shoulder surgery, leaving Mickey Loomis and the front office scrambling.
Naturally, when a Hall of Fame quarterback like Rodgers is floating around as a free agent, his name gets linked to every team that can’t find their car keys, let alone a starting QB. Analysts like Ross Jackson even floated Rodgers as an "emergency option" for the Saints. For a minute, it seemed like a match. The Saints had a roster that felt "one piece away," and Rodgers was a guy looking for a final chapter.
But the "Rodgers to the Saints" train derailed before it even left the station.
Why Aaron Rodgers Said No to Louisiana
Here is the part that most people get wrong. It wasn't the Saints who turned Rodgers down; it was Rodgers who shut the door on the Big Easy. During a Q&A session at an event hosted by rapper Mike Stud in May 2025, a fan point-blank asked him if he'd consider the Saints.
Rodgers didn't mince words. He said:
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"No. That's the answer. I've played there a couple times, but no, I'm too old. I don't want to live in Louisiana. Sorry."
Kinda brutal, right? He basically told the entire city of New Orleans that the humidity and the lifestyle just weren't for him. He was 41 at the time and clearly had a very specific vision for where he wanted to spend his final years in the league. Louisiana wasn't on the map.
Where Did He Actually Go?
Instead of heading to the NFC South, Rodgers took his talents to the AFC North. He signed a one-year, $13.65 million deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the 2025 season.
He wanted to play for Mike Tomlin. That was the big draw. He’s always spoken highly of Tomlin, and the opportunity to join a historic franchise like the Steelers—a team that already had a gritty defense and some offensive weapons—was way more appealing than a rebuild in New Orleans.
His time in Pittsburgh was actually pretty decent, all things considered. He threw for 3,322 yards and 24 touchdowns. He led them to a 10-7 record and an AFC North title. But like all things in the NFL, the "happily ever after" was short-lived.
The Current 2026 Situation
Now that we're in January 2026, the landscape has shifted again. Mike Tomlin just stepped down as the Steelers' head coach after 19 years. This has sent the Rodgers rumor mill back into overdrive.
Since Rodgers came to Pittsburgh specifically for Tomlin, insiders like Ian Rapoport are reporting that he’s not expected to return to the Steelers for the 2026 season. He's 42 now. His last game was a tough 30-6 loss to the Texans in the Wild Card round.
Is he going to the Saints now? Still no. The Saints have moved on. They used a second-round pick in the 2025 draft on Tyler Shough and have been letting him, Spencer Rattler, and Jake Haener battle it out. They’ve finally committed to a youth movement rather than trying to slap a legendary band-aid over their problems.
What Most People Miss About These Rumors
When you see headlines asking did Aaron Rodgers sign with the Saints, you have to look at the "why" behind the clickbait.
- The Salary Cap: The Saints are famous for their salary cap gymnastics, but even for them, Rodgers' contract demands would have been a nightmare to fit in 2025.
- The Scheme: New Orleans was moving toward a younger, more mobile offensive look under Kellen Moore. Rodgers, as great as he is, is a classic pocket passer who wants total control of the line of scrimmage.
- The Lifestyle: This is the most "human" part of the story. Sometimes, players just don't want to live in a certain city. Rodgers has spent his life in California, Wisconsin, and New York/Jersey. The Gulf Coast just didn't vibe with him.
What Really Happened: A Timeline
- Late 2024: Rodgers’ time with the Jets ends after a disappointing 5-12 season.
- May 2025: Derek Carr retires; Saints fans start dreaming of Rodgers.
- May 24, 2025: Rodgers publicly rejects the Saints during the Mike Stud event, citing his age and a lack of interest in living in Louisiana.
- Late May 2025: Rodgers signs with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
- January 2026: Tomlin resigns, and Rodgers is once again a free agent (or a potential retiree).
What This Means for You
If you're a Saints fan, don't hold your breath for a #12 (or #8) jersey with a fleur-de-lis on it. That ship has sailed, hit an iceberg, and sunk. The team is focused on their young core, and Rodgers is likely headed toward retirement or a very specific "last dance" with a team that has a Super Bowl-ready roster and a coach he respects.
The takeaway here is that NFL rumors are often just smoke, but in this case, the player himself provided the fire extinguisher. Rodgers wasn't interested, and the Saints weren't willing to sell the farm for a one-year rental who didn't want to be there.
If you're tracking Rodgers' next move, keep an eye on teams with established coaching hierarchies. With Tomlin gone, the "Rodgers era" in Pittsburgh is effectively over, and the 2026 offseason is going to be dominated by his retirement decision rather than a move to New Orleans.
For those still curious about the Saints' future at quarterback, the focus remains on whether Tyler Shough can develop into a true franchise starter or if New Orleans will look to the 2026 NFL Draft to finally solve the post-Brees era once and for all.