The Pittsburgh Steelers have had some trouble when it comes to the quarterback position in recent years. Ben Roethlisberger retired after the 2021 season, and since then, there has been constant turnover within that room. Kenny Pickett did not work out, and the experiment in 2024 with Russell Wilson and Justin Fields did not work either. Now, for the 2025 season, the organization has brought in Aaron Rodgers after what was a long and dramatic decision-making process. Rodgers signed his deal prior to mandatory minicamp and was present in Pittsburgh for that, and he should look better than he did in 2024 as he is further removed from his 2023 Achilles injury.
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Aaron Rodgers throwing a no look pass during Steelers minicamp in 2025.
Some fans doubt Rodgers' ability moving forward, but he has one of the best resumes at the position in NFL history. He is 41-years old and will turn 42 during the 2025 season, so it is understandable if he is not playing like the four-time MVP that he is. However, he still had a solid statistical year in 2024.
Team insider Mike DeFabo recently published a piece for The Athletic discussing older quarterbacks and how they play, and he gave a reason for some optimism regarding Rodgers.
"One reason for optimism is Rodgers has thrived in the West Coast offense, which often relies on quick, precise passes thrown with timing and anticipation," DeFabo wrote. "Last year, Rodgers' 6.9 air yards per attempt was the second-lowest mark of his career. The Steelers will likely try to lean on a quick passing game to protect him from the rush and get the ball in the hands of playmakers."
Rodgers thrives when throwing with anticipation, and when he is on the same page with all of his weapons on offense. The part of his game that he no longer has is the ability to move around in the backfield and make something happen as quick as he once did, which should not be an issue within the Steelers' offense. There might be some plays where it might be more beneficial to have a better athlete under center, but that just isn't in the cards for Pittsburgh at the moment.
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Steelers' quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers (left, #8) and Will Howard (right, #18) throwing the football around during 2025 minicamp.
Rodgers has discussed in the past about his love for Arthur Smith's offense, and now he gets to run the show. Pittsburgh has also revamped the offensive roster so that Rodgers has some serious weapons to throw the ball to. DK Metcalf needs no explanation, Jaylen Warren, Kaleb Johnson, and Kenneth Gainwell should be a above-average running back trio, Pat Freiermuth and Jonnu Smith are two reliable options at tight end, and Calvin Austin III is always a threat to take the top off of the defense.
If the offensive line can play well and Roman Wilson can make an impact as a second-year player, there is no reason Rodgers can't lead this team to the postseason, and possibly a run in the playoffs.
Steelers Allow Aaron Rodgers To Embrace A Different Role
It was a big deal when Rodgers went to the New York Jets prior to the 2023 season, but things took a turn when he suffered a season-ending injury during a Week 1 contest of his first season with the team. He returned in 2024 and his play improved throughout the year, but the Jets could never quite put everything together. He was playing with a much younger team, and he gets to embrace a different role in Pittsburgh.
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The Pittsburgh Steelers' defensive line attacks former New York Jets QB Aaron Rodgers during a regular season game in 2024.
The team is older, which allows him to be playing with a bunch of his peers, rather than young guys that still need some guidance in their careers. Hopefully this makes the quarterback more comfortable, which in turn should lead to some more team success in Pittsburgh.
What do you expect from Rodgers in 2025? Let us know in the comments below!
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