Steelers’ Season Hinges on Performance of 41-Year-Old Aaron Rodgers originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Aaron Rodgers storyline in Pittsburgh this offseason intrigues many. What he does in September through December should intrigue everyone.
For Rodgers, it’s not just another season – it’s his swan song.
Rodgers has indicated that 2025 will most likely be his last season in a Hall of Fame career that started in 2005, before some of his current teammates were born.
And as is usually the case, the team goes as far as Rodgers goes.
PFSN believes that the Steelers’ 2025 campaign hinges on Rodgers’ play.
“If Rodgers’ late-2024 form with the Jets carries over, this offense could be far more dangerous than anything Pittsburgh has fielded since Ben Roethlisberger’s final run. The arrival of DK Metcalf only raises the ceiling,” PFSN wrote. “The big-bodied wideout has topped 900 yards every year of his career and has led the NFL in end zone targets since 2019. With George Pickens gone, Metcalf becomes the clear top option, giving Pittsburgh a legitimate red-zone weapon to help solve a problem that’s plagued them for years.
“But questions still surround the offensive infrastructure. Rodgers’ decline in New York was tied heavily to poor protection, and Pittsburgh’s line ranked just 24th last season. Even with a strong supporting cast, Rodgers will need time and space to operate, and the Steelers are set to face seven defenses that finished in the top 10 in non-blitz pressure rate.”
This might also be a case of Aaron Rodgers vs. Arthur Smith.
Pittsburgh’s offensive coordinator is a run-first coach. The Steelers ran the ball more than most teams in the NFL last season. Rodgers threw the second-most passes in the league last year, and that’s how he likes it.
Will Rodgers get his way in Pittsburgh? Probably.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 31, 2025, where it first appeared.