Steelers' Aaron Rodgers Provides Certain Differences From Russell Wilson Pittsburgh Has Been Needing

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been an interesting team to watch throughout the 2025 offseason as the organization has been figuring out what is next at quarterback. Moves made, or not made, throughout the 2025 offseason have been a part of why Pittsburgh is expected to have 12 selections in the 2026 NFL Draft, which could be when the franchise finds it's next long-term quarterback. In the meantime, Pittsburgh attempted to find the best option to win-now, and that option was four-time league MVP, Aaron Rodgers. 

2025 marks the second-consecutive season that the Steelers have completely turned the quarterback room over. In 2024 the organization had both Justin Fields and Russell Wilson at the position. 

Fields is now with Rodgers' former team, the New York Jets, while Wilson is preparing to be the starter for the New York Giants. Wilson came into Pittsburgh during the 2024 offseason and tried to be a vocal leader immediately, and he started speaking about winning the organization a seventh Super Bowl almost immediately. 

Rodgers has been taking things slower than Wilson did, and team insider Brooke Pryor believes that is exactly what the organization needs. She spoke about the situation during a recent appearance on Mad Dog Sports Radio.

"It felt like this was a guy saying, 'I don't need football, but I want to keep playing for the love of the game.'" Pryor said. "Wasn't the whole, 'I'm gonna get up here and l'm gonna be the one to win the seventh Lombardi.' It felt very different from Russell Wilson's introductory press conference from a year ago when he talked about finding the fountain of youth and being hungry. Wasn't quite the same intensity, and I don't think that that's necessarily a bad thing. It was just different, and maybe that's what the Steelers need."

As the 2024 season went along, certain players on the team seemed to be fed up with Wilson's "rah-rah" leadership style. The losing streak to end the year was atrocious, and it was partly Wilson's fault. However, he was still shown on the sidelines during games trying to hype up his teammates while losing by 17 points.

Rodgers definitely brings in a different tone at the quarterback experience, while also toting a better resume and more significant experience. He raises the ceiling of what Pittsburgh can do as a team, and if certain areas of the roster are able to take a step forward, the Steelers could be primed to break their draught of not winning a playoff game. 

Pittsburgh doesn't have the easiest schedule during the 2025 season. There will be a lot of difficult matchups against some of the league's best teams. That was the case for the Steelers in 2024 as well and the team failed, now it will be interesting to see how the franchise fares.

Steelers Will Need To See Certain Position Groups Take Steps Forward

The 2025 season isn't just going to be about hoping that Rodgers plays well. It is also about seeing significant improvement from other players on the roster. One are that will be watched closely is the tackle positions as Broderick Jones is finally making the move to the left side of the offensive line, while Troy Fautanu is returning from a season-ending knee injury in his rookie year. It is critical that the Steelers are able to protect Rodgers, and those two players are going to be keys in doing so.

Another area of concern is the defense. This might be a shock, but it is the highest-paid defensive unit in the league. It has been for four seasons, and it just has never looked like it. The group completely fell apart at the end of the 2024 season, and that can't happen again in 2025. Eyes will also be on the wide receivers behind DK Metcalf, as well as all of the rookies being able to come in and make an impact.

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