The Pittsburgh Steelers have been a confusing team to get a read on throughout the first five games of the 2026 season. It is hard to tell if the offense is good and catching some momentum, or if the unit is just good enough to take care of favorable matchups. The Steelers offense scored just three points in Week 2 against the New England Patriots, and since then the offense has been one of the best in the NFL. A lot of that recent success is because of quarterback Aaron Rodgers as he has thrown three touchdown passes in each of the team's last three games, and he has even looked fairly mobile in the backfield.
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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) scrambles in the fourth quarter against the Indianapolis Colts at Acrisure Stadium.
The offense has been improving week after week thanks to Rodgers' performances, and a lot of credit also goes to running back Jaylen Warren. He has emerged as one of the best running backs in the NFL through five games. Rodgers having the production that he is at this point in his career is extremely impressive, but he has already been adamant that no matter how good he looks in 2026 he will not be coming back to the NFL for another season. He has confirmed time and time again that he will be retiring after the 2026 season is over.
Tight end Pat Freiermuth was on The Pat McAfee Show on Tuesday, and he was asked about how Rodgers is approaching his retirement, and whether or not the quarterback has been super nostalgic through this point in the season.
"Nah, definitely not," Freiermuth said. "He's focused on winning a Super Bowl this year. He's put all his chips on the table every single day, he's been great, he's been consistent since he's been here last year. He expects greatness from everyone every single day in practice, and I think that's what stands out the most to me. He's 42 years old, played in the league 22 years, and probably does he deserve a vet day Wednesdays and maybe Thursdays? Absolutely. But he's out there every single day practicing, holding us to a high standard, so how could you not go out there every single day in practice and work your a** off for a guy who probably shouldn't be out there."
Freiermuth noted that Rodgers has not made this season about him at all. Many fans assumed there would be some sort of "retirement tour" for Rodgers throughout the 2026 season, but that has not been the case at all. He has put all of his focus on winning another Super Bowl.
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Steelers' Pat Freiermuth with Aaron Rodgers after the two connected on a touchdown in the 2026 season opener.
Freiermuth has been one of Rodgers' favorite targets in 2026. The tight end has already caught four touchdowns on the year, and he seems to be more involved in the offense than he has been in recent years, which is something that the fan base has been clamoring for. He is a reliable target for the veteran quarterback, and the Steelers are going to need him to keep improving throughout the year if this team wants any chance of making the postseason and having a shot at the Super Bowl.
Steelers Need Players To Step Up For Aaron Rodgers
One benefit of having a legendary quarterback that is in his final season is that everyone on the roster should feel a little extra motivation. That includes players on both sides of the ball, and everyone wearing black and gold should want to win for Rodgers. The offense is moving in the right direction, but the defense needs to step things up. The defense is 18th in points allowed and 19th in yards allowed, and those two figures need to improve in order for this team to get the results it wants. The secondary is in a tough spot, but a solution needs to be figured out so that Rodgers can help turn this team into a legitimate contender.
What do you think of Freiermuth's comments on Rodgers? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!
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