The Pittsburgh Steelers have arguably the most frustrating quarterback situation in the NFL. For one thing, the franchise never truly had a great succession plan for when Ben Roethlisberger decided to retire, even though that was something that fans could see coming. This left the organization in a tough spot as it had to make rushed decisions in signing Mitch Trubisky and drafting Kenny Pickett. Neither player worked out in Pittsburgh, and the Steelers eventually went down a path of signing veterans to be the starter. It was Russell Wilson in 2024, and it was Aaron Rodgers in 2025. The team is still waiting on a decision from Rodgers for the 2026 season.
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Steelers' Aaron Rodgers hands the ball off to Jaylen Warren during a road game against the Patriots in 2025.
Rodgers played decently on the surface for the Steelers in 2025 as the franchise was able to capture the AFC North crown for the first time since the 2020 season. However, the season ended in typical fashion as the Steelers were blown out at home in the postseason. Rodgers could barely do anything in the game as he struggled to move in the backfield and extend plays, which is a prime example of why it might be a bad idea to bring back a 42-year-old to be the starting quarterback. ESPN analyst Ben Solak recently posted a video to social media where he discussed Rodgers' performance in 2025, and why it is not a great sign to see the Steelers pursuing him again.
"I would argue they need a starting quarterback for 2026 independent of whether Rodgers returns or not," Solak said. "Out of 38 quarterbacks last year, Rodgers was 33rd in dropback success rate. That means down to down, the Steelers were not consistently creating positive plays on offense. A big part of the reason why is because they did not push the football. Rodgers was 37th when it came to the percent of his throws that went at least 10 yards down the field. He led the league in throws behind the line of scrimmage. He also led the league in quickest time to throw."
These numbers should not shock anyone who watched the Steelers' offense in 2025. Every pass felt like an extension of the running game, and Rodgers could not consistently extend plays in the backfield. Pushing the ball down the field felt impossible, and that is an area that the Steelers desperately need to improve.
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Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) during a regular season matchup between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Buffalo Bills.
The way Rodgers played quarterback in 2025 might not entirely be on him. Former head coach Mike Tomlin preferred to be rather conservative on offense, and wanted to play old-fashioned football where the Steelers ran the ball well and played good defense. The big problem with that is that the 2025 Steelers could not do either of those things consistently well.
I do think that Tomlin generally had a mistake-free, win-close-games philosophy that neutered the offense some. I also know what I saw: Rodgers' deep ball accuracy was rough and he checks it down way too early. Don't think that's going away. https://t.co/I54MXFtE2K
— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) April 21, 2026
Rodgers is definitely not the quarterback that he used to be, and many would agree with Solak's points.
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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) during 2025 training camp in Latrobe, PA.
Steelers Have Been Getting Ripped Apart For Waiting For Aaron Rodgers
The Steelers went through the waiting game with Rodgers in 2025, and the franchise is doing it once again in 2026. Maybe the organization knows what the veteran quarterback plans to do and the public is being kept in the dark, but either way, it is not the best look for the organization. Solak spoke more about Pittsburgh waiting on Rodgers to return.
"Rodgers in 2026 means the Steelers are unserious on offense, yet again," Solak said.
What do you think about Rodgers potentially returning and Solak's comments? Let me know on X, @brogannoey, and follow us for more news!
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