The biggest mistake the Pittsburgh Steelers ever did, in my not-so-humble long-time fan opinion, was not preparing for a proper successor to their longtime quarterback. And when they did put someone under center after that quarterback retired, it was a mish-mash of greatness and frustration.
I mean, you start off with …
- Mitch Trubisky, where every time he threw a forward pass, you prayed that it wouldn’t end up as a pick-six.
- Kenny Pickett, who I thought might actually do something incredible if he wasn’t running for his life after every snap. And when he DID get something going in games – usually by the fourth quarter – you had to suffer through three quarters of misery just to get there.
- Mason Rudolph, who would come up with one incredible game and then just fade into the background.
- Duck Hodges – yeah, somehow our third-string quarterback started a few games, and “Duck-mania” lasted about as long as a bout with indigestion.
- Justin Fields, who maybe had one good touchdown throw all game, but once again was scrambling when he didn’t need to scramble.
- Russell Wilson, who we now know has a few good games and then rapidly deteriorates throughout the season.
And yet somehow, the Steelers continue to post winning records. And they even make the playoffs – where they eventually lose in the opening round by two touchdowns or more. Ugh. It’s enough to make me bury my face in a Terrible Towel.
To this point … the Steelers are now pinning their 2025 NFL season on the following trio.
- Mason Rudolph – yep, he’s back, folks. After a year in Tennessee backing up the totally useless Will Levis, Mason’s back in black and gold.
- Will Howard – he’s our sixth-round draft pick who some fans hope can be the next “low-round superstar” like Brock Purdy or Tom Brady, but for now is most likely to hold a clipboard for the entire year …..
- And we get Aaron Rodgers. Yep. The legendary Green Bay Packers quarterback. The man who beat the Steelers in Super Bowl 45 all those years ago (against the quarterback whose name I have not mentioned in this blog for the past 15 years, and don’t plan on starting any time soon). Aaron Rodgers, who spent all that time in the offseason huddled in caves sand smoking wacky tobaccy and yapping it up on Pat McAfee podcasts.
This is what we’ve got right now. And we’re in a division with Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson and whatever four-headed monster the Cleveland Browns have in their lineup.
Yep … we get Aaron Rodgers. He’s even wearing Kenny Pickett’s old #8 jersey – if you’re thinking anybody still cared about Kenny Pickett in Pittsburgh, that #8 jersey went last year from Kenny Pickett to an emergency punter, and now to Rodgers. I mean, it’s not like Rodgers would have worn his original Green Bay #12 uniform number – that’s reserved for Terry Bradshaw, he of four Super Bowl rings and an Immaculate Reception.
And I’m sitting here looking at this and thinking … why are we doing this? Why are we giving Aaron Rodgers a one-year, $10 million contract in the twilight of his career? Were we so disillusioned with passing up Shedeur Sanders in the draft that we’re going to this? A man who essentially forced his way out of a team to join a team that he eventually forced his way out of?
Then again …the Steelers did spend 20 years wandering in the desert after Terry Bradshaw retired. The fact that I even remember such signal-callers as Bubby Brister, Cliff Stoudt, Kent Graham, Tommy Maddox, Kordell Stewart and Neil O’Donnell (thanks for making Larry Brown the MVP of Super Bowl 30, O’Donnell) … before we went back to glory with the guy we drafted in the same draft class as Eli Manning and Philip Rivers … that says something, too.
And the Steelers have a pounding, punishing schedule this year. We’re facing the NFC East this season, which means we’re staring at the Eagles and the Commanders and the Cowboys and those godawful Giants. We’re also getting the AFC East, so say hello to Buffalo and Miami and New England and those godawful Jets. And we’ve got an overseas game in Ireland as well.
If we can pull a 9-8 record and at least a first-round appearance in the playoffs in 2025, it’ll be a miracle.
You get one shot at this, Aaron Rodgers.
Because the last time someone in Pittsburgh with that last name made it their neighborhood …
They were working with a team that included King Friday III, Daniel Striped Tiger, Lady Elaine Fairchilde and Henrietta Pussycat.
And to quote Henrietta Pussycat in this moment … “Meow meow don’t meow this season up, Aaron Rodgers, meow meow meow.”
Chuck The Writer 
“And yet somehow, the Steelers continue to post winning records…” is a testament to Coach Tomlin (since 2007?!), and his uncanny ability to continually create lemonade.
I fear the fading Rodgers won’t change. With every dropped pass he’ll stare down the “offending” receiver, throw his hands in the air, shake his head, flap his lips, and then sulk coming off the field. A real people person…not.
Tomlin has his work cut out for him this season. I just hope he doesn’t wind up getting tarnished by the Rodgers acquisition.
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Rodgers is washed. We know that from last year with the Jests. He’s keeping the seat warm for Will Howard. If he didn’t get the hint when State Farm dumped his butt, and became the official insurance company of the Chiefs, welll……! Fields will do better in NY with the Jests. He has to.
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