Steelers’ Experiment with Aging Aaron Rodgers Doesn’t Impress Top Analyst

Mike DeFabo wanted the Steelers to avoid signing a soon-to-be 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers.

Steelers’ Experiment with Aging Aaron Rodgers Doesn’t Impress Top Analyst

Aaron Rodgers (Image via IMAGO)

The Pittsburgh Steelers’ agreeing to a one-year contract with veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers received mixed reviews. Senior Athletic reporter Dianna Russini remained optimistic about the development, but her colleague and Steelers insider Mike DeFabo is not a fan.

DeFabo, similar to former Steeler Ryan Clark, voiced concern over Mike Tomlin and Omar Khan waiting for Rodgers instead of handing the QB1 job to Mason Rudolph or signing someone else. From his point of view, the Steelers’ trust in the Super Bowl winner is misplaced.

It’s a repeat of history that didn’t work during the first two occasions when Ben Roethlisberger returned after injury and in 2024 with Russell Wilson.

The [Pittsburgh] Steelers promised they wouldn’t do the same thing and expect different results. But here they are, for the third time, betting on the NFL’s highest-paid defense to prop up an aging QB. We’ve seen this movie before with Big Ben & Russell Wilson.

Mike DeFabo wrote in his latest article for The Athletic

DeFabo’s concerns are genuine. The Steelers’ experiment with rotating Wilson and Justin Fields failed miserably in 2024. Tomlin kept his ‘never recording a losing campaign’ title intact with a 10-7 record. However, the Steelers crashed out at the first hurdle against the Baltimore Ravens.

Aaron Rodgers wasn’t great in his second year with the New York Jets. He threw 28 touchdowns and over 3800 yards, but ended the season with just 5 wins.

Dianna Russini advised the Steelers fans to have faith in Aaron Rodgers

Rodgers tired out the Steelers fans with his waiting game, but the situation was out of his hands. According to reports, the former Green Bay Packers star faced issues at home that required attention before deciding his future in the NFL.

Steelers' Experiment with Aging Aaron Rodgers Doesn't Impress Top Analyst
Aaron Rodgers (Image via IMAGO)

The Steelers’ owner, Art Rooney Jr., reassured the fans that Rodgers would sign with them. However, the call for a different quarterback grew even stronger. Former and current players voiced their discontent in waiting for a quarterback who realistically has one foot in the retirement door.

Rodgers proved Rooney correct by signing a one-year deal. Even though DeFabo sounded the alarm bells, Russini highlights that the situation differs from last year or even two years ago.

[Aaron Rodgers] did some really good things for that locker room [at Jets], some good things for that organization. But most of it, you pretty much know that that entire experiment with Aaron Rodgers in New York wasn’t great. This isn’t the New York Jets; this is the Pittsburgh Steelers, with a very strong head coach who has dealt with the craziest and wildest of players.

Dianna Russini said on a segment of Scoop City

Russini basically pointed out that the Steelers and Jets organizations function very differently. One is a blue-chip franchise with six Super Bowls, while the other last played postseason football in 2010 and has zero trips to the Super Bowl since Joe Namath lifted the Lombardi Trophy in 1969.

The Steelers still need to be cautious and must stay ready for anything. Rodgers is one ACL injury away from becoming obsolete. If the backups fail to conjure up a few wins, then Tomlin might experience his first-ever losing season.

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