Steelers Set To Break Unfortunate Streak In 2025 After Key Acquisition Of Aaron Rodgers

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been dealing with a ton of frustrated fans in recent years. Things have not been pretty since the retirement of Ben Roethlisberger following the 2021 season, although the organization has been above .500 every year since he has been gone. This is what frustrates the fans, the mediocrity. Pittsburgh hasn't been bad enough to have a good draft pick to potentially land a franchise quarterback, but the organization also hasn't been good enough to have a realistic shot when making it to the postseason. That could change during the 2025 season, thanks to Aaron Rodgers.

The Steelers have made the playoffs in two out of the three seasons since Roethlisberger retired, but the team has not been able to make it past the Wild Card Round. Pittsburgh actually hasn't won a playoff game since the 2016 season, which has been a horrific draught for the fan base. Rodgers has plenty of playoff experience at the quarterback position, as he even beat the Steelers in Super Bowl XLV. His experience and composure could give Pittsburgh a good chance to finally make some noise in the playoffs. 

ESPN analyst Ben Solak spoke about the offense with Rodgers at the helm, and he was optimistic for Pittsburgh.

"Even if the fit isn't perfect and the personalities clash, Rodgers was a better quarterback in the 2024 season than Russell Wilson or Justin Fields," Solak wrote. "The Steelers' offense under Rodgers will not consistently outperform last season's version, but it will likely have more peak games of competency, which could be a big deal come playoff time."

There were times during the 2024 season where Pittsburgh's offense looked like it was asleep, and viewers could tell there was no chance the group was going to be moving the ball consistently and effectively. That won't be the case with Rodgers, as he actually played better than both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields statistically during the 2024 season.

Rodgers didn't have his best year in 2024, and the New York Jets struggled mightily throughout the year, but a lot of that can be attributed to the dysfunction of the organization. It is also important to note that Rodgers was coming back from an Achilles injury that he suffered in 2023, and his play improved as the year went along.

The teams that Rodgers was on in New York had little chance to succeed. The head coach was fired near the start of the year, the defensive coordinator was promoted to interim head coach, which hindered his focus on that side of the ball. That won't be the case in Pittsburgh.

The veteran quarterback threw for 28 touchdowns and just 11 interceptions in 2024, but his play improved as he got comfortable being on the field again. Over the final nine games of the season, he threw for 2,001 yards, 16 touchdowns, and just four interceptions. He did this while completing over 64 percent of his passes and registering a quarterback rating of 95.7. 

Steelers Have A Tough Path To Making The NFL Playoffs In 2025

The best way for Pittsburgh to find a way into the postseason during the 2025 season is going to be winning the AFC North, but realistically, that is a longshot. It is way more likely that the team finds a way into the dance by being a Wild Card team, which would more than likely mean securing the seventh seed. This will be hard to do for the Steelers and Rodgers, as the organization is set to play the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals twice, which could very well be four losses. Pittsburgh will also play the Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, Green Bay Packers, and the Los Angeles Chargers.

If anyone can turn the impossible into the possible for 2025, it's Head Coach Mike Tomlin and Rodgers.

What do you think about Solak's thoughts on Rodgers and the Pittsburgh offense? Let us know in the comments below!

#SteelerNation