The Pittsburgh Steelers are preparing for the 2025 regular season as the roster has been finalized for the year. Some changes can still be made, but the team is what it is going to be for the most part to begin the campaign. There have been many changes in Pittsburgh throughout the 2025 offseason, and a lot of those changes have the fan base feeling fairly optimistic about the year. The biggest change comes at quarterback as the organization signed Aaron Rodgers, and he is looking to end his career on a high note after two less than spectacular seasons with the New York Jets.
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Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers looks at his play-sheet during training camp in Latrobe, PA.
After the signing of the veteran quarterback, the fan base in Pittsburgh was relatively split. Some fans were excited, and some were angry. The expectations fluctuate throughout the city, but there is no reason to believe the Steelers should be any worse than they were in recent years. Rodgers could come into Pittsburgh and play better than he did in New York, and the roster surrounding him is much better than it was with the Jets.
Pittsburgh's new tight end Jonnu Smith has high hopes for Rodgers, and he spoke with the media on Wednesday and explained why.
"He's another genius that you can throw in that bag as well," Smith said. "Just a guy who loves the game. Learning from him, talking ball with him, seeing what he's thinking. He's a h*ll of a teammate, nothing but great things to say about Rodgers. He's gonna go ahead and get his gold jacket whenever that time comes. This guy's been in training camp for 20 years. The knowledge that he has, the things that he's saw. He saw everything. He's got all the answers to the test."
Rodgers' resume cannot be questioned. He has won the NFL's MVP Award four times, and he is one of the best pure passers and quarterbacks in the history of the NFL. He has aged and lost a step from what he was during his prime, but he can still play like one of the better quarterbacks in the league, it is up to the coaching staff and his teammates to put him in a position to do so.
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Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) during 2025 training camp in Latrobe, PA.
There is some skepticism surrounding Rodgers because of how the last two seasons went for him with the Jets. He suffered a serious Achilles injury at the start of the 2023 season that forced him to miss the year, and when he returned in 2024, he was clearly trying to shake some rust off from the injury. This means he did not play his best at the start of the year, but his play improved as the season went on and he looked pretty good during the second half of the season.
Pittsburgh would probably be pretty happy with the quarterback that was playing for New York during the second half of the season in 2024. The play he provided then shows he still has something left in the tank. It is also important to note that another older quarterback, Kirk Cousins, suffered the same injury during the 2023 season, and could not get back to playing like himself.
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Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers looks on as he takes a day off while the team runs through drills during a 2025 training camp at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
Steelers Need To Execute Around Aaron Rodgers
Rodgers can still be a good quarterback, but he is not the guy that can become a superhero when he needs to anymore. He needs the offensive line in Pittsburgh to look significantly better than it did in 2024, and he needs to be able to trust his wide receivers and tight ends. It would also be a huge help if the offense could run the ball efficiently, which would set up some play-action passing. Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith is known for his ability to draw up successful run plays and schemes, but Pittsburgh struggled with that in 2024.
What do you think about Jonnu Smith's remarks? Let us know in the comments below!
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