Despite National Media Pundits, There’s Steelers Optimism for Rodgers’ Last Dance

If you had told a Pittsburgh Steelers fan 10 years ago that Aaron Rodgers would eventually become the team's quarterback, they would have been thrilled. Back then, it would have seemed like a pipe dream. Now, the Steelers finally have Rodgers, but he isn't the player he once was. Instead, the future Hall of Famer enters what could be his final season in the NFL. Many national media outlets have criticized the Steelers for signing Rodgers, and some of those concerns are valid. However, much of the conversation has overlooked the reasons for optimism surrounding the Rodgers-led Steelers.

Pittsburgh beat writer Alan Saunders of Steelers Now explained why there is still optimism. Simply put, Rodgers can still spin the football.

“Man, can he still sling it,” Saunders wrote. “That was one of my biggest takeaways from OTAs, where I spent a lot of time watching young quarterbacks Will Howard and Drew Allar, but couldn’t help but notice just how much better Rodgers remains at throwing the football. The way he ended the final practice of minicamp — with an impossible bomb to Roman Wilson — was the cherry on top.”

Rodgers hasn't hit the cliff yet

Rodgers proved last season that he can still throw the football at a high level. However, he wasn't an ideal fit in Arthur Smith's offense. The Steelers leaned heavily on the running game and built their passing attack around it. While that approach worked well for Smith with the Tennessee Titans, NFL defenses have largely adjusted to it. The offense often boils down to quick dropbacks, play-action concepts, and deep shots, with very little in between.

Now, Rodgers returns to an offense that closely resembles one he has extensive experience running.

Make no mistake, Rodgers will play much differently in this system. The quick passing game will still be part of the offense, but he won't have to extend plays the way he did a decade ago. Instead, Mike McCarthy's offense will stretch the field and create space across every level. It won't avoid the middle of the field or avoid long-developing concepts. That wasn't how McCarthy coached Rodgers during their years together, and there's little reason to expect that to change now. Ultimately, with Rodgers entering what could be his final season, everything comes down to how much he has left in the tank.

Steelers will go as far as Rodgers takes them

There is one point the national media has gotten right: the Steelers will only go as far as Aaron Rodgers can take them. A Super Bowl run remains unlikely, but Pittsburgh, like most NFL franchises, is trying to maximize its opportunity to win.

If Rodgers can recapture even a portion of the form he showed four or five years ago, how far could this team realistically go? Sustaining that level over an entire season will be difficult, and there will undoubtedly be rough performances along the way. Still, if McCarthy and Rodgers can get the offense clicking, they could elevate the Steelers into a legitimate playoff contender.

Maybe not a Super Bowl contender, but a trip to the divisional round? That's certainly within reach. Rodgers still possesses the veteran instincts, arm talent, and competitive drive to give the Steelers that opportunity. Now it's simply a matter of whether he can summon one last run while holding off Father Time.