Pat McAfee’s Night Aht: Aaron Rodgers’ Announcement Party?
For the past several weeks, Pat McAfee has been advertising a “night aht” in Pittsburgh on April 9th. In the advertisements, McAfee promises the night to be entertaining and teases surprises. Perhaps I am looking too deep into the location of this, but why Pittsburgh?
McAfee did grow up in Plum, Pennsylvania, which is a Pittsburgh suburb. However, he now lives in a beautiful home in Indianapolis, Indiana. His show, the Pat McAfee Show, aside from special location episodes, is typically filmed in a studio in Indianapolis as well. After retiring from football, Pat has kept himself EXTREMELY busy with a plethora of projects, including WWE broadcasting. However, I took a look, and the WWE is not scheduled to have an event in Pittsburgh until an episode of Raw on June 30, 2025. It is also very chilly in Pennsylvania this week, and there have even been several mornings where we Pennsylvanians have gone to work with snow on the ground. The weather is likely not the appeal bringing McAfee’s event to the Steel City. This continues to beg the question: why Pittsburgh?
It is no secret that Aaron Rodgers is a frequent flyer of the Pat McAfee Show, as he has made multiple appearances at this point. Could this event be where Rodgers announces a deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers? It is known that Rodgers met with the Steelers front office several weeks ago. He was also noted to have a throwing session with recently acquired Steelers receiver DK Metcalf. Still, there has been no announcement regarding a deal with the Steelers or a retirement for Mr. Rodgers. Perhaps this is the reasoning behind McAfee’s decision to host an event in Pittsburgh at this point in time. While there has been no official timetable set as to when the Steelers need an answer from Rodgers publicly, one would think they would need an answer prior to the NFL draft, especially with some of their pre-draft scouting and official visits featuring the quarterback position. There have been rumors that the Steelers have serious interest in both Jalen Milroe and Jaxson Dart (I will believe this when I see it, though). Thinking about this, the timing of a potential announcement makes sense with the draft just weeks away.
Then again, McAfee is from the area. Maybe he wanted to host this event, but he also has a lapse in his schedule that would allow for some family time. This is all my own speculation, but I am interested to see what happens the evening of April 9th.
I know this theory has been put out there for a while, but if it is true and the announcement is made at this event…what would that say for the organization?
I don’t think it happens at the event, but after spring workouts conclude.
Just my two cents…
Yeah, I don’t see the Steelers allowing the player to break the news. Plus, it would be pretty tough to sneak a signing past all the reporters and keep it completely quiet until the evening.
I am hoping you’re right about this, Jeff! It does make me scratch my head a bit though that he decided not to have this event in Indianapolis. Maybe it is just mere coincidence and means nothing.
He does have Pittsburgh roots, so I’m not shocked he chose Pittsburgh based on that alone.
We shall see…
It would say nothing good for the organization, and less so for Tomlin.
My reply seems to have moved below–
it would be a poor look for the organization and Tomlin in particular if Rodgers opts for a LeBron-style annoucement.
The very fact that the organization is still playing the hapless suitor standing at the altar wearing its tux while Rodgers dithers over whether or not to walk the aisle says a LOT about the organization.
None of it good.
Allowing Rodgers to control the announcement through the provocateur McAfee would, at this point, feel sadly on brand.
I have to say I don’t disagree. I don’t like it at all, but I don’t disagree.
I would assume this was planned before Rodgers coming to the Steelers became a strong possibility. Regardless of going to Plum and WVU, I think McAfee considers himself a yinzer, and it’s kind of part of his persona and brand.
I don’t think it would say anything negative about the organization. IF…Rodgers is going to announce joining the Steelers tomorrow, I assume the Steelers’ brass would know about it. McAffe would want Tomlin, Rooney, and Khan in the building to present Aaron a Steeler jersey on stage, like the draft.
I was in the anyone except Rodgers (or Cousins) camp, and was willing to see what Mason could do. But after hearing so often how Rodgers played better later in the season. I watched several condensed Jets games on NFL+ and I’ve come around to wanting Rodgers. To my totally amateur eyes, Rodgers’ level of play was definitely better than what we saw from Wilson and Fields overall. He can still zip that ball all over the field and his mobility and awareness around the pocket looked pretty good.
A couple of other considerations. Apparently the Jets led the league in dropped passes last year. Interestingly Aaron’s buddy Lazard led the league with a 19 percent drop rate. And that Jets Oline looked worse than the Steelers.
The possibility of Rodgers passing to Metcalf, Pickens, Muth, Austin and Wilson has me almost excited about the offense.
Watch some of the later Jets games if you can.
I have no issue with Rodgers’ play, and I do think on field, he could be better for us than either Russ or Justin were last year. I also take less issue with his persona than many here.
What worries me about him is that I don’t want the Steelers to overpay in terms of either salary or (especially) term to get him here. Same concern I had about the possibility of extending Russ – we KNOW that an old vet QB is NOT going to be our long-term answer at the position, so I don’t want their contract blocking opportunity for young hopefuls.