Rumors are flying about who the Pittsburgh Steelers’ quarterback will be in 2025. It sounds like the signs are pointing to Aaron Rodgers. He’s past his prime, but Rodgers’ arm doesn’t seem to have lost any juice. He could potentially help the Steelers finally win a playoff game. However, Rodgers with the Steelers might not be the best fit. Reporter Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette believes the Steelers would have to alter their offense if they sign Rodgers.
“Aaron Rodgers attempted 584 passes (in 2024),” Fittipaldo said recently on the Armstrong Neighborhood Channel on YouTube. “That’s the third-most passes of his career. You compare that to what the Steelers did. The Steelers only tried to pass 321 times. There’s just a huge difference in how I think the Steelers’ offense would look with Aaron Rodgers. Any offense is gonna benefit from a strong running game.
“The Steelers want to have a strong running game, but if Aaron Rodgers is the guy, you’re gonna play to his strengths. I think you’re gonna have to open it up and pass a little bit more.”
Fittipaldo is correct that Rodgers’ teams tend to pass the ball more than they run it. When healthy, Rodgers has only attempted fewer than 500 passes once in his career. Part of that is because he’s one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history. When Rodgers is on your team, you usually want the ball in his hands.
However, he isn’t that same player anymore. He can still push the ball downfield but having him drop back that many times might be asking for trouble. At 41 years old, Rodgers is one serious injury away from the end of his career. He just dealt with a torn Achilles in 2023. Having him throw the ball that much could lead to his body taking more punishment.
That doesn’t mean the Steelers shouldn’t sign Rodgers. At the moment, he looks like their best option available at quarterback. Letting him do things he’s comfortable with is a good idea. That doesn’t mean the Steelers’ offense should become pass-happy.
The run game is a crucial part of Arthur Smith’s offense. That’s part of why the Steelers hired him. They want to have a run-heavy offense. Allowing Rodgers to throw the ball almost 600 times might be counterproductive, even if that’s what he wants to do.
That could make Rodgers an awkward fit in Smith’s offense. However, if Rodgers buys into Smith’s philosophy, he could be more productive. Less is more is better sometimes, and a strong run game could take some pressure off Rodgers. That might allow him to do more damage when he does throw the ball. Finding that balance will be key if he lands in Pittsburgh.
