Ravens' John Harbaugh shares blunt reaction to Aaron Rodgers signing with Steelers

The AFC North added yet another big-name quarterback with Aaron Rodgers finally going to sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers. That’s just one more for those in the division to have to prepare themselves for.

John Harbaugh spoke about Pittsburgh’s addition of Rodgers with the media while at OTAs for Baltimore on Friday. He knows the Steelers, a great franchise themselves, added one of the all-time best at the position, regardless of his recent history or age, which will only make the two games against them and the division as a whole that much harder for the Ravens.

“He’s a Hall of Fame QB, so we’ll have to go against a Hall of Fame QB with one of the premier teams in the league, who happens to be our archrival,” said Harbaugh. “So, we’ll be preparing for that.”

After a span of speculation, reports finally came out on Thursday that Rodgers would be signing with the Steelers. He’ll reportedly be joining them today in preparation of being at minicamp next week for Pittsburgh.

Adding Rodgers gives a quarterback to Pittsburgh that can at least be third in that conversation in the division behind Lamar Jackson in Baltimore and Joe Burrow in Cincinnati. That’s with Cleveland working through a four-man competition, which is closer to where the Steelers would have if Rodgers didn’t sign as they were working with Mason Rudolph, Will Howard, and Skylar Thompson on the depth chart.

That all said, Rodgers, at this point of his career, is a controversial signing. He is still a four-time honoree as MVP and All-Pro, a ten-time selection as a Pro Bowler, and a Super Bowl champion all from his time while in Green Bay. That said, Rodgers is coming off his lone full season with the New York Jets where they went 5-12 with him completing 63% of his throws for 3,897 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions for one of the lower-scoring offenses in the league at 19.9 points. That decline in play over the last three years then isn’t even referencing him being less than two years removed from a torn Achilles or the general off-field concerns that come with Rodgers.

It’s still to be determined what Rodgers has in him for a 21st season at the age of 41 as he’ll be 42 by season’s end. Harbaugh isn’t overlooking him or the signing at all, though, with both of Baltimore’s games against Pittsburgh coming over their final five this season.