Steelers Receive Critical Advice From Trusted NFL Executives On Aaron Rodgers

The Pittsburgh Steelers don’t have a starting quarterback for the 2025 NFL season. Sure, they did bring back Mason Rudolph, who walked after the 2023 season to join the Tennessee Titans. With Rudolph back for the 2025 season, he’s expected to be a nice option at backup, but the Steelers need to find out who their starting quarterback is going to be. All signs are pointing towards the Steelers being all-in on 41-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Now, it’s just a waiting game as the ever-polarizing Rodgers is taking his sweet old time making a decision about his future.

The uncertainty surrounding Rodgers has sparked heavy debate among Steelers fans and NFL insiders alike. While some executives believe Rodgers still possesses flashes of the four-time MVP version of himself, others think his best days are long gone. His late-season play in 2024 showed glimpses of elite quarterbacking, but injuries and age remain major concerns. The Steelers must weigh the risk of relying on an aging veteran with declining mobility against the potential reward of a quarterback who, if healthy, could immediately elevate the offense.

In an article published by Albert Breer on Sports Illustrated Monday morning, NFL executives offered critical advice on Rodgers’ potential to keep playing in the NFL, despite his age. Some believe he could still be a difference-maker, but others warn that the Steelers should proceed with caution. 

"I think the guy is still a beast," texted an AFC defensive coach who went against him during that time. "Mentally and arm-talent-wise, he hasn’t dropped off at all. Now, his mobility and athleticism, of course, isn’t the same as it was 10 years ago. [But] if I’m a team and I need a quarterback right now, I don’t hesitate signing him."

Breer shared a quote from a conversation he had with an AFC defensive coach who was highly optimistic about Rodgers. The coach, who chose to remain anonymous, emphasized that teams shouldn’t flinch if given the opportunity to land Rodgers, believing he still has plenty to offer. 

That’s an encouraging sign for Steelers fans hoping to see the 41-year-old leading their team in 2025. However, another AFC Executive offered a more sobering take on Rodgers.

"He’s on the downside," said one AFC exec whose team played the Jets late. "He still has the flashes of arm talent and accuracy. There’s a depreciation of the mobility that made him great, when he was that two-way, run/pass option player on every play. It’s relegated him to being more of a pocket-passing veteran. Do I think he can start for a year? I do. He still sees the field well, has football intelligence, the quick release. His arm’s not quite what it was, but with the right surrounding cast? Yes."

The general consensus among these well-connected league executives and coaches is that Rodgers still has something left in the tank. Enough, in fact, for a team like the Steelers to let 26-year-old Justin Fields walk, all because they believe they have a legitimate shot at landing the 41-year-old quarterback. That alone speaks volumes about how highly Pittsburgh views Rodgers' potential impact.

Steelers Landing Aaron Rodgers Might Just Give Them A Shot At Getting Over The Hump

The Steelers haven’t won a playoff game since the 2016 season, and they know their veteran defense is in win-now mode. With DK Metcalf and George Pickens forming a dynamic receiving duo, the offense is poised to become a serious threat. Adding Rodgers could be the missing piece that gives Pittsburgh the boost it needs to end its playoff drought and make a deep postseason run.

The anonymous executives and coaches vouching for Rodgers is telling. It highlights that he is still highly regarded around the league, which explains the Steelers' serious interest in him. Now, Steelers fans are left waiting to see if Rodgers will land in Pittsburgh, and what that could mean for the future of the team in 2025.

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