Steelers Now
Former Green Bay linebacker Brady Poppinga thinks Aaron Rodgers is in for a rude awakening this season with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Poppinga, who was teammates with Rodgers in Green Bay, thinks Father Time will get to the four-time league MVP.
“I went to the Jets-Patriots game last year, and the thing that was sticking out about Aaron that was different was simply, it’s almost this unwillingness — I wouldn’t say unwillingness, because he’s tough — it’s almost like the body is tired and doesn’t want to take the hit,” Poppinga said during a recent interview on Infinity Sports Network’s “Reiter Than You” with Bill Reiter. “There’s a lot of flinching, there’s a lot of, I would say his vision is going from reading the field to the rush, which isn’t usually normal for high-level quarterbacks. High-level quarterbacks are kind of able to feel the rush and then they’re able to then keep their eyes downfield.”
At age 41, Poppinga thinks Rodgers’ ability to deal with pressure will be the biggest obstacle in 2025.
“As soon as you take your eye sight from the field — which is where your receivers are and how they’re spread out and configured in space versus the defenders — a receiver literally could come open and all of a sudden could become covered in a tenth of a second,” Poppinga said. “By the time you’re looking down at the rush and then back up to where you don’t see them even come open or even have a chance to come in open space. And that’s where I see him and that comes with age. It just a reality. It’s just human nature. Your body gets tired of getting hit, once it does, you begin to what I call flinch.”
Rodgers showed he can still play good football last year with the New York Jets, throwing for 3,897 yards, 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He was at his best late in the year, too, which is an encouraging sign for the Steelers. Of Rodgers’ 30 fastest top-speed plays last season, 17 came in Week 13 or later, per NFL Next Gen Stats.
Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated said the Steelers came away pleasantly surprised after doing a thorough study on Rodgers from last season.
“Their study of Rodgers showed a little more than even they expected. Early in the 2024 season, the Achilles, and a hamstring injury to follow, clearly hampered him. But as time wore on, even with the Jets struggling, the Steelers saw Rodgers returning to form,” Breer wrote. “In the Jets’ Halloween game against the Texans, he made a few big-time back-shoulder throws. He played well in both Dolphins games. In Week 16 against the Jaguars, Pittsburgh saw vintage Rodgers, with a late go-ahead touchdown throw to Davante Adams really standing out.”
Despite Rodgers’ improved play down the stretch last season, Poppinga questions if he’ll make it through 17 games.
“It’s not that he’s being weak, it’s not that he’s not tough, it’s...
