What Aaron Rodgers’ remaining NFL season with the Steelers would possibly appear to be

The Pittsburgh Steelers may need just lately signed a four-time MVP and Tremendous Bowl champion to be their new beginning quarterback, however the six-time world champions are not any nearer to placing a seventh Lombardi Trophy on the mantle. 

Regardless of Aaron Rodgers’ Corridor of Fame credentials, the 21-year-pro faces an uphill climb reworking the Steelers into official title contenders this season. 

And the 2 sides doubtless have only one season to make magic occur, with Rodgers telling “The Pat McAfee Present” on Tuesday he’s “fairly certain” he’ll retire following the 2025 NFL season.

“What a greater place to complete than one of many cornerstone franchises of the NFL,” Rodgers instructed McAfee.

Whereas the wedding between Rodgers and Mike Tomlin will dominate headlines and make the Steelers “must-see TV” based mostly on the collaboration of a pair of future gold jacket wearers, this pairing between famous person quarterback and elite head coach appears destined to fail if judged on the group’s championship requirements. The Steelers have historically been a run-first group that closely relied on their stellar protection to chalk up regular-season wins, however that tactic has failed to provide a playoff win since 2016.

Though the method has helped Tomlin keep away from a shedding season all through his legendary profession, the conservative strategy has routinely led to some regular-season “duds” that price the group prime seeding within the postseason event. Furthermore, the throwback sport plans have made the Steelers an “simple out” when the calendar pages attain December and January. 

Maybe Rodgers can do what Kenny Pickett, Mitchell Trubisky, Mason Rudolph, Justin Fields and Russell Wilson couldn’t do earlier than him and provides the Steelers a reputable menace that forces opponents to construct sport plans designed to restrict the affect of the quarterback. Although Rogers is within the twilight of his profession and coming off a disappointing two-year stint with the New York Jets, he has posted spectacular marks for many of his 20-year profession (65.1% completion fee, 62,952 go yards, 503:116 touchdown-to-interception ratio and a 102.6 passer score). Most significantly, he’s a confirmed winner with a 153-87-1 profession document and an in depth historical past of coming by means of in clutch conditions, as evidenced by his 23 fourth-quarter comebacks and 34 game-winning drives. 

Contemplating how the Steelers routinely relied on Roethlisberger’s fourth-quarter (41 fourth-quarter comebacks and 53 game-winning drives in 18 seasons) and magic to win throughout the most effective years of the Tomlin period, it’s smart for the group to hitch their wagon to a quarterback with a successful pedigree to degree up in 2025. 

“Learn his resume,” Mike Tomlin instructed reporters following Pittsburgh’s first minicamp apply. “We’re enthusiastic about him being right here, he’s enthusiastic about being right here, however we’ll make no daring predictions. We’re simply gonna roll our sleeves up and go to work and let our efforts do the speaking.”

Regardless of his earlier success, Rodgers’ transition to the Steelers’ offense would require a number of “give-and-take” on either side. The Steelers logged the fourth-most speeding makes an attempt in 2024, whereas Rodgers tried the second-most passes final season with the Jets. The pass-heavy strategy continued a development that dates again to his days with the Inexperienced Bay Packers, the place he performed for a group that tried the fourth-fewest operating performs from 2008 to 2022, per ESPN Analysis.

“You’d like to be extra balanced,” Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith instructed reporters shortly after Rodgers signed. “You are not apparent in the way you need to assault this protection, what you suppose their strengths and weaknesses are. That is the sport that is performed each Sunday. … we did not convey Aaron in right here — and signed fDK [Metcalf] for all that cash — to go run the wishbone. So, you understand, you attempt to play to the strengths of your group.”

Trying on the Steelers’ revamped roster with DK Metcalf — the truth is, Rodgers says Metcalf is a “massive a part of the rationale” he joined the Steelers — and Robert Woods becoming a member of a lineup that additionally includes a new set of operating backs in Kaleb Johnson and Kenneth Gainwell, the offense options a mixture of speedsters and slick playmakers who can allow Smith to function a sport plan that meshes ball management with big-play looking. With Rodgers on the helm, the Steelers are placing the ball within the arms of an growing older murderer with the arm expertise, accuracy and anticipation to torch defenders with laser-like throws when he can throw from a clear pocket. 

Although the four-time MVP is coming off an 11-interception season — his second season with 10-plus interceptions in three years and the fourth of his profession, he has the bottom interception share (1.4%) in NFL historical past and is a prudent resolution maker when he trusts his supporting forged. Because the Steelers forged him in a managerial position that requires him to care for the ball and complement one of many league’s prime defenses, Rodgers may lean right into a conservative strategy that prioritizes ball safety over playmaking from the quarterback. 

From getting the Steelers into the most effective play calls based mostly on down, distance and defensive formation to keep away from high-risk throws, Rodgers may spend the 2025 season centered on being environment friendly (completion fee of 70% or higher and a passer score of at the very least 100.0) and efficient directing an offense that depends on “YAC” (yards after catch) derived on numerous “catch-and-run” ideas at short- and intermediate vary. 

Arthur Smith utilized an analogous plan to assist Ryan Tannehill win the 2019 NFL Comeback Participant of the Yr honors in Tennessee. Though the Titans extensively featured play-action passes from numerous run-heavy units with Derrick Henry within the backfield, the intelligent design of the offense enabled the veteran to play the most effective soccer of his profession. 

If the Steelers can re-establish a top-10 speeding assault behind a beefy offensive line that includes a assortment of kids with fewer than three years of beginning expertise (Broderick Jones was drafted in 2023, whereas Zach Frazier, Mason McCormick and Tony Fautanu have been acquired within the 2024 draft), the group can alleviate a few of the stress on Rodgers to single-handedly carry the offense. 

To that time, the Steelers’ new franchise quarterback should present a willingness to play inside Smith’s system. As a veteran with 241 profession begins, it may be exhausting for an outdated canine to study new methods on the subject of executing new or totally different ideas. Rodgers and Smith should discover frequent floor on which performs greatest go well with the quarterback’s abilities, whereas accentuating the strengths of the remainder of the Steelers’ personnel. 

How the duo handles the “tug-of-war” over the offense’s philosophical strategy may decide whether or not the Steelers chalk up sufficient wins to increase Tomlin’s non-losing streak and sneak into the playoffs as a wild card. 

Whereas that’s properly under the Steelers’ championship normal, it’s the best-case state of affairs for a group banking on an growing older former Tremendous Bowl champion and four-time MVP to steer them on an inconceivable title run. 

After which it’s off into the sundown for Rodgers, who has one post-retirement promise.

“You will not see me,” he instructed McAfee.

Bucky Brooks is an NFL analyst for FOX Sports activities. He additionally breaks down the sport for NFL Community and as a cohost of the “Transferring the Sticks” podcast. Observe him on Twitter @BuckyBrooks.

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