Aaron Rodgers’ return means Steelers are destined for more of the same

Aaron Rodgers return to the Pittsburgh Steelers presents a form of a excellent news/dangerous information state of affairs for the staff. 

The excellent news is that they can stop the guessing game (and waiting game) on what he is going to do, and provides them their beginning quarterback for the 2026 season. He’s additionally most likely the very best choice for rivalry this season, given the accessible choices.

The dangerous information is that he’s not adequate at this stage of his profession to push them into the highest Tremendous Bowl contender class and leaves them destined to be the identical staff they’ve been for the previous decade.

That staff just isn’t adequate. 

Aaron Rodgers will make the Steelers aggressive, however not aggressive sufficient

If the Steelers’ aim in 2026 is to compete for a playoff spot, and each indication from the group makes it clear that’s the case, as it’s yearly, then Rodgers might be the best choice they’ll flip to.

Particularly among the many choices on the roster.

Mason Rudolph is a succesful backup and may win an occasional begin if wanted, however he isn’t going to be a full-season reply.

Final yr’s sixth-round decide, Will Howard, has by no means taken an NFL snap in a preseason or regular-season sport and is already coping with the lengthy odds of being a late-round quarterback.

Drew Allar was picked within the third spherical this season and appears to have the eye of latest head coach Mike McCarthy, given his arm energy and talent to make each throw on the NFL route tree. However he’s a rookie whose mechanics and fundamentals are being completely damaged down and rebuilt again up. He isn’t more likely to be a sensible choice for a aggressive staff this season.

Rodgers, in the meantime, is a future Corridor of Famer, a Tremendous Bowl champion and a four-time MVP. Whereas he isn’t anyplace near the participant he was at his peak when he was profitable all of these awards, he was adequate in 2025 to assist lead the Steelers to a 10-win season, an AFC North division championship and a house playoff sport. 

The Steelers get pleasure from profitable extra video games than they lose, and take nice satisfaction in the truth that they haven’t had a dropping season since 2003 and are constantly in playoff rivalry. And there’s a lot to be mentioned for that. The issue is the Steelers haven’t truly received a playoff sport for the reason that 2016 season, and have not likely been aggressive in any of their current postseason video games.

The dearth of elite quarterback play over that point interval is an enormous purpose why. Whereas their protection has constantly been superb, and at occasions even glorious, they haven’t had the kind of top-tier quarterback play that really makes a staff a Tremendous Bowl contender for the reason that prime years of Ben Roethlisberger.

The top of his profession, and the revolving door of quarterbacks since him, have constantly been under common to downright dangerous. That has helped preserve the Steelers within the mediocre center of the NFL. They’ve did not develop quarterbacks by way of the draft so far, have relied on declining veterans in free company, and haven’t been capable of get right into a place on the high of the draft (both by dropping or buying and selling up) to discover a younger elite expertise. 

This yr’s staff figures to do what the previous few groups have carried out and grind out 9 or 10 ugly wins, perhaps sneak into the playoffs, lose to a staff with a greater quarterback, and enter subsequent offseason with the identical uncertainty at a very powerful place on the sphere.

They desperately want Allar to develop. If he doesn’t, they’ll preserve on the lookout for their subsequent long-term reply. It’s not simple to seek out.