After months of deliberation, probably the most drawn-out storyline of the 2025 NFL offseason will lastly come to an finish. Following his launch from the New York Jets, Aaron Rodgers will return for yet one more yr in 2025 with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Forward of his first season with the Steelers, we’ll be making our Aaron Rodgers predictions.
Although the 41-year-old has but to place pen to paper, Rodgers informed the staff he would signal a one-year deal. Assuming every thing goes based on plan, he’ll turn into Pittsburgh’s third totally different beginning quarterback in as a few years, and fourth within the final 5 seasons. Signing a participant of Rodgers’ age will solely additional that pattern, nevertheless it provides the Steelers far more instant hope than they beforehand had.
Even at 41, Rodgers is a big enchancment from what the Steelers’ quarterback room at present has. Till he formally indicators, Pittsburgh’s roster solely has Mason Rudolph, Skylar Thompson and Will Howard listed at quarterback. Rudolph has prior expertise beginning in black and gold, however is in any other case a profession backup, like Thompson. Howard, a sixth-round rookie, has the staff’s perception as a possible possibility down the road, however not one who is able to be thrown into the fireplace.
With Rodgers main the cost, the Steelers hope to take care of their standing as dark-horse title contenders. Coming off an up-and-down season with the New York Jets, Rodgers additionally seeks a rebound marketing campaign with famend head coach Mike Tomlin. With many variables in play, listed here are our 2025 Aaron Rodgers predictions.
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Aaron Rodgers will lead Steelers again to playoffs
Since taking on in 2007, Mike Tomlin has notoriously by no means suffered a shedding season as a head coach. He has made the playoffs in 12 of his 18 years, even when postseason success has evaded him during the last decade. Maybe that pattern continues in 2025, however both method, Aaron Rodgers ought to lead the Steelers again to the playoffs.
Whereas the Steelers have made the playoffs at a 67 p.c clip beneath Tomlin, Rodgers has seen the postseason in 11 of his 18 years. Eradicating his early years as a backup and the 2 seasons he misplaced to damage, he has reached the playoffs at an 85 p.c fee.
Rodgers has had his late-career struggles, but when he’s to expertise a second wind, it will be with Pittsburgh. Many criticize his stingy strategy along with his coaches, however the four-time MVP has overtly expressed his admiration for Tomlin. If there may be one coach he’s excited to play for, it appears to be Tomlin, the league’s longest-tenured head coach.
The Steelers share a variety of similarities with Rodgers, past simply their new partnership. Followers love to jot down each of them off, even when historical past suggests in any other case. Pittsburgh endured a variety of adjustments within the offseason, nevertheless it made some extent to keep away from a rebuild yr. Earlier than signing Rodgers, the Steelers bolstered their offensive roster by buying and selling for DK Metcalf and drafting working again Kaleb Johnson within the third spherical.
Aaron Rodgers will throw for fewest yards in his profession
Rodgers would possibly lead the Steelers again to the playoffs, nevertheless it is not going to be due to his arm. He would possibly statistically be coming off a resurgent yr with the Jets, however Rodgers’ greatest days are lengthy gone. As spectacular as his return from a ruptured Achilles was, it appears unlikely that Rodgers will ever throw for 4,000 yards in a yr once more.
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Greater than something, the Steelers are the proper match for Rodgers at this level in his profession. At 41, he’s not the identical participant who can carry a franchise as he did in his prime with the Inexperienced Bay Packers. He’s greatest suited to the position he might be requested to play in 2025 — serving as a methodical chief of a run-first offense in an Arthur Smith-led offense. Name him a recreation supervisor, however he’ll make the suitable performs and ship when known as upon.
If Smith has Rodgers throw 50 makes an attempt per recreation, that highway won’t ever result in success. The Steelers know what they’re getting and what they have already got on their staff. Regardless of shedding Najee Harris in free company, they virtually confirmed the strategy by taking Johnson as a substitute of Shedeur Sanders within the 2025 NFL Draft.
A lower in passing numbers doesn’t essentially imply Rodgers could have a foul yr. No one ought to count on him to return to classic type, particularly after mulling retirement. A participant with Rodgers’ ego would by no means ponder hanging it up if he nonetheless believed his greatest days lay forward.
Aaron Rodgers will retire earlier than the tip of season
By signing a one-year deal after months of inner contemplation, Rodgers is making it moderately clear that he solely desires to play yet one more season. That call may change by subsequent summer time, however for now, he appears content material to return for one remaining run.
In his thoughts, Rodgers’ remaining season would ideally finish with one other Tremendous Bowl to journey off into the sundown. A lofty purpose certainly, however Rodgers is a pure competitor. Nonetheless, careers hardly go as deliberate, and athletes battle to map out a perfect ending.
Rodgers’ signing with the Steelers didn’t even change the staff’s championship odds. With the entire world already anticipating his signing, the affirmation didn’t make sportsbooks any extra assured in Pittsburgh’s Tremendous Bowl aspirations. If the season goes the way in which Vegas appears to foretell, Rodgers will discover it more and more more difficult to swimsuit up every week, along with his remaining championship window lowering each outing.
It isn’t frequent, however the NFL has seen it occur earlier than. Vontae Davis memorably known as it a profession throughout halftime of the Buffalo Payments’ Week 2 recreation within the 2018 season. Antonio Brown primarily ended his profession in 2021 by working off the sphere along with his shirt off. Rodgers pulling an identical transfer would spark criticism, however that has by no means affected his selections earlier than.
If nothing else, Rodgers is among the most unpredictable gamers within the NFL. Outdoors opinions hardly ever have an effect on his selections, and he makes them with confidence. Say he wakes up in the future and not feels the necessity to proceed the every day grind, it’s not past his establishment to prematurely name it quits. The probably situation is Rodgers’ profession ends within the 2026 offseason, nevertheless it might be anybody’s guess.