Is Aaron Rodgers’ Return a Good or Bad Thing for Steelers?

On May 16, the Pittsburgh Steelers and quarterback Aaron Rodgers agreed to a one-year deal. Rodgers will play his 23rd and final season with the Steelers in the NFL. 

“This is it,” Rodgers announced in his press conference. 

After two mediocre years with the New York Jets, Aaron Rodgers bounced back in Pittsburgh. He led the Steelers to the AFC North title, clinching their first home playoff game since 2020. He threw 24 touchdowns and just seven interceptions in 16 games last season. 

Rodgers is now the obvious choice to be Pittsburgh’s starting quarterback, but Will Howard, Mason Rudolph, and Drew Allar stirred some rumors in the offseason before Rodgers re-signed. 

The Steelers will likely only keep three quarterbacks, meaning one of the aforementioned three will be the odd man out. Rudolph makes the most sense, considering he has the least potential and is by far the oldest. The Steelers could place one QB on the practice squad, as they did with Skylar Thompson last season. 

Pros of Aaron Rodgers’ Return

Sure, he struggled at times last season, but Rodgers definitely has some gas left in the tank. Rodgers, a future Hall of Famer and one of the game’s greatest quarterbacks of all time, led a team with D.K. Metcalf, Calvin Austin, and two waiver claim/practice squad wide receivers to win one of the toughest divisions in football.

Rodgers showed his capability to make nearly every throw on the football field last season. Though fans often joked about his age, Rodgers looked good, and so far this offseason, he looks fresh and ready to go. 

Accuracy has always been a strong suit for Rodgers, and he has proven to still have it. He is not as mobile as he once was, but a stronger offensive line will allow for more vintage Rodgers moments. Even last season, he showed off his running skills with a rushing touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens. 

Outside of accuracy, Rodgers’ football IQ and decision-making are top-tier, no matter his age. He showed this multiple times over the last season, whether in-game, on the sideline, or just talking football in press conferences. 

One moment that stood out was against the Chicago Bears. Rodgers, sidelined with an injury, noticed the Steelers were misaligned, which would have cost them a first down and ultimately the game.

Being one of the game’s most intelligent quarterbacks has helped Rodgers compete into his 40s. 

Cons of Sticking With Rodgers

Fans anticipated the possibility of a battle between Allar and Howard to jump-start the future in 2026. The Steelers have had issues finding the next franchise quarterback, and fans hoped to speed up this process starting this season.

Howard led and won the 2024 National Championship with the Ohio State Buckeyes in his final collegiate season. Drafted 185th overall, he shows lots of promise and has proven to be a winner.

On the other hand, Allar has more of a raw, or untapped, skill set that fans are eager to see. Drafted 76th overall in the 2026 NFL draft, he showed lots of potential at Penn State that he could be a future franchise quarterback. 

The issue with Rodgers returning is that this delays the growth process on the field for the two young QBs. The positive part, though, is that these young prospects get to learn from a Hall of Famer and Super Bowl champion. 

“I’ll try and mentor Drew as much as he wants me to, and keep staying on Will,” Rodgers said. 

Rodgers learned a lot while backing up Brett Favre in Green Bay, and he passed his knowledge down to Jordan Love, who is now one of the premier quarterbacks in the NFL. 

Improved Roster to Support Rodgers

Rodgers and new Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy will reunite after plenty of successful seasons in Green Bay with the Packers. Rodgers even mentioned that he wanted McCarthy to be interviewed. 

“I encouraged (Omar Kahn) from an outside perspective to interview Mike, not thinking he even would.” Rodgers said, “It’s like a pinch me moment, been happening the last few days.”  

Coming into the 2026 season, the Steelers’ offense has improved in all facets. The offensive line is more talented. Pittsburgh added wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr., who has proved to be an extremely reliable target. They also drafted Germie Bernard out of Alabama, who has turned heads in camp so far. 

“I think we were close last year. I think we added some good pieces. Felt like we needed a lineman, probably at some point…Thought we needed somebody who could work in the slot…Bringing in Pittman was obviously a good addition,” Rodgers said.

Rodgers highlighted the additions of Max Iheanachor and Germie Bernard from the draft, as well as Jamel Dean and Jaquan Brisker from free agency. 

All in all, the improved roster likely encouraged Rodgers’ return, especially considering he announced his decision after the draft. Rodgers and the somewhat new-look Steelers look to build on their previous season’s success heading into 2026.

The post Is Aaron Rodgers’ Return a Good or Bad Thing for Steelers? appeared first on The Lead.

Read More