With the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 26-24 win over the Baltimore Ravens tonight, QB Aaron Rodgers made himself some money. Rodgers earned a $500,000 incentive with the win tonight, as it clinched the AFC North and sent the Steelers to the playoffs. His contract included a $500,000 incentive if the Steelers made the postseason.
Rodgers can continue to add to his wallet with wins throughout the playoffs, as he has growing incentives for winning in each playoff round, up to $1.5 million for a Super Bowl win with 50% playtime in the game. A win in the Wild Card Round next week with 50% playtime would also net Rodgers an additional $600,000 in incentives.
Despite being down his top target in DK Metcalf, Rodgers found a way to lift the Steelers over Baltimore for the second time this season. They won the AFC North for the first time since 2020. He’s well-deserving of the extra incentive, as his play this season, while up-and-down at times, has been a big reason why the Steelers returned to the postseason for the third consecutive year. He threw for 294 yards and one touchdown pass while leading a game-winning drive to help the Steelers beat their division rivals and win the AFC North for the first time since 2020.
For Rodgers, it’s his first time making the playoffs since the 2021 season, his final year with the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers and the Packers lost to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Divisional Round, 13-10. Since the 2014 season, Rodgers has played in the divisional round each time he has made the playoffs. He last lost in the Wild Card Round in 2013.
The Steelers will hope that trend continues. That would mean that they break their playoff win drought, which began in the 2016 season. Breaking that drought would endear Rodgers even more to the Pittsburgh faithful, on top of earning him a little extra dough. It would also enhance his legacy in what could be his final go-around as an NFL quarterback.
The Steelers are slated to host the Houston Texans on Monday Night Football in the Wild Card Round. Rodgers will look to be the first quarterback to win a playoff game for the team since Ben Roethlisberger, whom he surpassed on the all-time passing list earlier this year.