Aaron Rodgers rejoined the Pittsburgh Steelers this past offseason in what is expected to be the 42-year-old’s final NFL season.
After a season in which Rodgers led the Steelers to a 10-7 record and an AFC North title, general manager Omar Khan retooled the roster with Rodgers as the focus.
After Mike Tomlin ditched the headset for a microphone, Steelers owner Art Rooney II dismissed the idea of entering a rebuild phase. Khan’s offseason moves seemed to mirror that sentiment, at least a little.
Old Faces in New Places
At the start of the offseason, the top priority was replacing Coach Tomlin. Rooney spearheaded the coaching search, and the team landed on Rodgers’ old running mate, Mike McCarthy.
Rodgers worked with McCarthy in Green Bay for 13 years, culminating in a Super Bowl victory over the team the duo now work for in 2010.
Through three weeks in 2026, McCarthy, a Pittsburgh native, has led the team to a 2-1 record. However, the short season has not been without its share of ups and downs.
Mr. Rodgers’ New Neighbors
After a year of fans banging the drum for another wide receiver to pair with wideout D.K. Metcalf, Pittsburgh brought in Michael Pittman Jr. from the Indianapolis Colts and drafted Alabama’s Germie Bernard. The two new receivers give Rodgers more options in a more open offense.
Among the offseason departures was Team MVP Kenneth Gainwell, who joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The team attempted to replace his production with Rico Dowdle.
The new additions haven’t exactly been anything to write home about. Pittman debuted well against the Atlanta Falcons, hauling in three passes for 58 yards, but an injury has kept him limited the last two games. Bernard has seen few opportunities to open the season, with the team favoring third-year wideout Roman Wilson instead.
Peaks and Valleys Through Three Weeks
Rodgers and the offense began the season with a lackluster home showing against the Falcons, putting up just 13 points and needing a superhuman T.J. Watt play to win.
The next week, in a rainy Foxborough, Massachusetts, the offense got completely shut down by Mike Vrabel‘s Patriots. They were held to just three points, 272 yards of total offense, and went just 2/12 on third down, capped off with two turnovers. That performance led Rodgers to take shots at McCarthy.
McCarthy responded with his best-coached game so far against the Cincinnati Bengals. The offense looked vastly improved, both visually and statistically.
30 points on the board, 430 yards of offense, and one win.
It was, quite literally, a historic day for Rodgers and the Steelers offense. Rodgers matched Ben Roethlisberger in career wins, Rodgers and McCarthy recorded their 100th win as a duo, and the Steelers scored more than seven points in the first quarter for the first time in over four years.
So, has Rodgers lived up to expectations? It’s hard to say, as those expectations aren’t exactly clear. However, if the Steelers want a guy to show them what the offense can do, or a mentor for one of the young quarterbacks on the roster, few are better than Aaron Rodgers.
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