The Pittsburgh Steelers are officially ready to see what Aaron Rodgers has left in the tank for the 2025 season. It definitely helps to have an elite wideout at your disposal, with DK Metcalf joining the party via trade. With how the Steelers love to run the ball, there has been a lot of concern about how Arthur Smith's schemes will clash with what he has now on the roster, and how they can work together. There will be a multitude of personalities, and it will be interesting to see how they all handle each other as the season progresses.
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Pittsburgh Steelers' DK Metcalf during the team's 2025 minicamp.
Smith is not worried about all that, however. He spoke about that during a post-practice press conference and explained what the plan is.
"Obviously, the roster evolves, and we didn’t bring Aaron [Rodgers] in here and sign DK [Metcalf] for all that money to go run the wishbone," Smith explained.
Many NFL sources have given praise to Smith for his ability to adapt to the situations around him and not be stubborn about running his scheme his way. That appears to be what the veteran offensive coordinator is planning to do again in 2025. Rodgers is comfortable running shotgun plays, relying on his field vision, and arm talent to get things done, so that's what Smith will likely do too.
Meanwhile, adjusting for Metcalf won't be too much of a hassle. He is a similar wide receiver in terms of playstyle to George Pickens, who was recently traded away. The Steelers have needed a veteran leader in that position room for years, and they finally got their man. All the younger players now have a productive workhorse to look up to.
AP Photo
Former Seahawks WR DK Metcalf runs with the football in a game against the Steelers.
Smith still needs to establish a capable WR2 to complement Metcalf when training camp rolls around. He can't run a pass-heavy offense and have just one pass-catcher that Rodgers feels comfortable with. Whether the Steelers make another move, or just expect someone else to develop and step up into that role, the 41-year-old works best when he can survey the field before the snap and identify the best option.
Could Steelers Be Held Back By Ego?
As Ben Roethlisberger recently mentioned, quarterbacks and coaches both have egos. That could have held Smith back during the 2024 season, as he reportedly never let his quarterbacks call audibles or run two-minute situations on their own. While Russell Wilson never acknowledged that during the season, Rodgers would likely be more willing to complain about it if it happens again.
Rodgers has his own ego too. In fact, numerous reports say that he alone resulted in many people within the New York Jets' organization losing their jobs, including the head coach and general manager. He denied all those claims, but there was still a lot of wreckage from his stint there. However, that tactic will not work with the Steelers. They don't fire people on a whim.
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Former New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers nods to acknowledge someone speaking in his direction.
Obviously, there is a lot of ego here, but the only way for this offense to run properly is if there is some sort of compromise. Smith already came out and said that he will adjust to more of a passing scheme to help Rodgers and Metcalf. On the flip side, Rodgers may need to be a bit more willing to run certain plays from under center to help out Smith and his running offense.
It may be cliche, but it's true. The offense will be a disaster if one or both parties refuse to compromise a bit to help the other out. Rodgers will get to run plenty of pass plays out of shotgun, but in return, he may have to hand the ball off a little more than he is used to, especially under center. As long as they put their egos aside for a bit, good things will happen.
What do you think about Smith being willing to adjust out of his scheme to fit the offensive abilities? Let us know in the comments or on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.
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