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Some NFL careers conclude with adulation and a clear understanding of what a given player meant to the league, as well as the teams he played for. Others conclude with more questions than answers.
In what could be his final season, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers will have a chance to amend his legacy. While he has done more than enough to stake his claim as one of the best regular-season quarterbacks in NFL history, his larger footprint is mostly up for debate given his rocky departure from the Green Bay Packers and underwhelming tenure with the New York Jets.
Concerns regarding his playoff track record, ability to guide a team at his advanced age, and willingness to be a bona fide leader all make Rodgers the Steeler who is under the most pressure ahead of the 2025 season.
“I just want to be a servant leader here, and just pass on the knowledge that I have from 20 years of experience,” Rodgers told Yahoo Sports. “Just try and fit in with the guys, get to know them, let them get to know me. And just enjoy the process of it.”
Rodgers’ results may also impact Pittsburgh from an organizational standpoint. While the franchise has been largely stable under head coach Mike Tomlin, they have not won a Super Bowl since the 2008 season and seems to struggle once the calendar turns to January.
Last season’s 28-14 Wild Card weekend loss to the Baltimore Ravens saw Pittsburgh’s defense struggle to contain running back Derrick Henry. Furthermore, the offense could not recover once they fell behind 21-0 in the second quarter.
Many fans and pundits have since wondered if Pittsburgh is “a quarterback away” from being a title contender. Justin Fields and Russell Wilson were serviceable at the position last year. But, in theory, a healthy and devoted Rodgers could place them in a more advantageous playoff position this season.
The 2024 Steelers were eighth in points against and sixth in rushing yards allowed. The secondary was inconsistent, but the defensive unit was one of the team’s stronger components as a whole. By contrast, Pittsburgh’s offense was 23rd in total yards and 16th in points.
“Read his resume,” Tomlin said of Rodgers from training camp. “We’re excited about him being here. He’s excited about being here. We’ll make no bold predictions. We’re just going to roll our sleeves up and go to work and let our efforts do the talking.”
While playoff wins and losses are not solely quarterback stats, it is a hard topic to evade when comparing Rodgers’ resume to those of other signal callers such as Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes. The four-time MVP holds a 12-10 postseason record and has gone 2-4 in his last six playoff games.
Given that some of these losses have come during years when Rodgers was at the height of his career, it is fair to wonder how he...
