The Pittsburgh Steelers have very high expectations of Aaron Rodgers. They did not wait months for him to sign just so they can repeat the previous eight years all over again of zero postseason success. They think that his football IQ combined with his high-end arm talent will be exactly what the team needs to finally get over the hump and win a playoff game. If that does not work, there may be a lot of soul searching in the front office. If it does, then he could return for another season in 2026: hopefully with no drama headed into June.
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Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) during 2025 training camp in Latrobe, PA.
Of course, part of having Rodgers on is hoping everyone else will get better around him. Former Green Bay Packers Head Coach Mike McCarthy told Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette what he wants to see from the Steelers players and staff now that they have the four-time MVP on the team.
“I couldn’t listen or write down enough,” McCarthy said. “I hope the people around Aaron right now are doing the same thing. He just brings such a wealth of success, information and expertise for how to play the position, how to play offense and how to win.”
McCarthy spent all of his time in Green Bay with Rodgers on the team, even when Brett Favre was starting. He knows everything about the 41-year-old, what he likes to do, and what kind of person he is. Of course, the coach/quarterback combo defeated the Steelers in Super Bowl XLV, but that didn't stop McCarthy from learning more from the man that he supposedly had to teach.
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Then-Packers Head Coach Mike McCarthy celebrates a victory in Super Bowl XLV over the Steelers.
Now, McCarthy is taking in the 2025 season as a fan, and that includes watching his hometown team employ the man that helped lead him to a championship. Even though this is Rodgers' first and possibly only year in Pittsburgh, he still wants to see everyone around him take that next step forward and learn from the oldest player in the league.
Steelers Have Already Learned So Much From Rodgers
There have been numerous stories told by players about how Rodgers has been as a mentor. Rookie quarterback Will Howard has raved about how Rodgers has taken him under his wing before he broke his hand on a freak accident in training camp. Even though he most likely will not see a snap in 2025, Howard will be learning all he can while taking mental reps and using that information for the 2026 campaign.
Special teams captain Miles Killebrew has even spoken about how he has coached up the defense. It's hard for the veteran to be fooled by a defensive look at this stage in his career, but he has helped the unit disguise their looks to try and fool other quarterbacks, so they can get more takeaways. It will be interesting to see how that works out once the game tape gets put on for the first time.
AP Photo / Peter Joneleit
Pittsburgh Steelers safety Miles Killebrew jogs off the field the field following an NFL preseason football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Aug. 11, 2023, in Tampa, Fla.
Even the negatives have seemingly turned into a positive. Wide receiver Roman Wilson saw Rodgers' controversial side earlier this summer, and that put him at risk of being cut before roster cutdown day. That led to the second-year wideout getting his act together and quickly developing into the wideout that he was drafted to be in 2024. He is now expected to be a key contributor on the offense.
Obviously, one training camp and preseason with Rodgers does not mean everyone knows everything. McCarthy spent 13 years with him in Green Bay, and he still wishes that he had been able to take more notes from him. The Steelers could possibly get two years with him, but most likely just one. They don't have a lot of time to learn from him, so they need to soak in all the information they can before moving on to another quarterback.
What do you think about McCarthy's message to the Steelers? Let us know in the comments or on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.
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