Jim Nantz Jokes That He’s Crowdfunding ‘Seven Figures’ in Donations to Give Aaron Rodgers to Play for the Steelers

CBS announcer Jim Nantz joked on Wednesday that he’s willing to put forth some of his own money to get Aaron Rodgers to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Rodgers future has been one of the top storylines since the end of the 2024 NFL season. Shortly after the season’s conclusion, the new regime of the New York Jets informed Rodgers that they’d be moving on from him. Rodgers played just two seasons with the Jets — one of which came to an end in Week 1 due to a season-ending Achilles tear.

Since that announcement, there’s been a great deal of speculation regarding Rodgers’ next move. During an appearance The Pat McAfee Show, Rodgers confirmed that retirement is in play. He’s also visited a number of teams — including the Steelers — to weigh his playing options.

During the NFL’s schedule reveal Wednesday night, Nantz made the case for Rodgers to sign with the Steelers.

“We have the doubleheader Week 1 on September 7th. It is Detroit at Green Bay,” Nantz told Rich Eisen. “It’s a very exciting matchup for us. And I have to say this: part of that doubleheader, the primary game at 1 o’clock — which I trust Ian Eagle and J.J. Watt will do — is Pittsburgh at the Jets. Now, let’s marinate on that for a minute here. So the first game of the day will be, presumably, Aaron Rodgers going back to take on the New York Jets. Now, that’s big. And then that leads into Detroit and Green Bay. It’s a monster way to start the season.”

Nantz went on to explain how CBS’s broadcast schedule featured multiple Steelers games that he believed would be more compelling with the addition of Rodgers. In fact, he was so insistent on the QB coming to Pittsburgh that he joked he was putting some money together as some kind of informal signing bonus:

I don’t know if you’re watching, Aaron Rodgers. I hope you are, but I want you to know that I’m passing the hat here at Quail Hollow and we’re taking up a collection. I think we can run this thing up to somewhere close to — just, again, just a few of my colleagues and some friends. We wanna see you in the Steel City this season and we’re willing to contribute somewhere — I think we can get up to close to seven figures — as a feel-good sign of appreciation, just to kick in a little incentive for you to be in Pittsburgh this year.

We need the Steelers to be good. They need you. I saw you play last year. The numbers were really good — a lot better than people gave you credit for — and I know you can still play. I know you can still play; and you get doubled up with Mike Tomlin and T.J. Watt on that defense. I think it’d be a great thing. Let’s get this thing done. I’m just making a personal appeal. We want you; we need you; and we look forward to seeing you.

Watch above via NFL Network