Steelers A to Z: Aaron Rodgers joined Steelers for 1 final ride in decorated NFL career

Editor’s note: From now until reporting day to training camp at Saint Vincent College, TribLive is running through the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 90-man roster, looking at each player and assessing his outlook for the 2025 season. The breakdown will run in alphabetical order with at least two players each day between June 12 and July 23. Contract data courtesy spotrac.com.

QB AARON RODGERS

Experience/age: 21st season, 41 years old

Contract status: $13.65 million cap hit with another $5.85 million in incentives, will become unrestricted free agent in 2026

The past: Rodgers elected to play one more season — and accepted the Steelers’ one-year offer — rather than have his decorated career end with memories of playing for the 5-12 New York Jets in 2024.

The four-time NFL MVP is seventh in the league’s career passing annals, and he has been selected to 10 Pro Bowls. His last big season, though, was in 2021 when he led Green Bay to a 13-3 record.

In two full seasons since — he played just four snaps in 2023 — Rodgers has a 13-22 record as a starter, with the Packers in 2022 and the Jets last year. He threw a combined 23 interceptions in the seasons, marking just the third and fourth times in his career that he reached double figures in picks.

The Steelers want Rodgers to take care of the ball like he did earlier in his career, and they don’t want him attempting 584 passes, second-most in the NFL, like he did a year ago. They have surrounded him with a young offensive line and good supporting cast of young running backs and tight ends, plus a bona fide No. 1 receiver in DK Metcalf.

Obligatory B-roll of Aaron Rodgers on his first day of practice with the Steelers. Enjoy. pic.twitter.com/JnbUZac90x

— Joe Rutter (@tribjoerutter) June 10, 2025

2025 outlook: Rodgers kept the Steelers waiting until June before he formally signed their contract offer. He must show that he still has elite passing skills at age 41 and is the quarterback to help lead the Steelers to a playoff victory, which of course hasn’t happened since the 2016 season.

Like the Steelers, Rodgers has faced his own playoff demons. Since beating the Steelers in Super Bowl XLV with Green Bay, Rodgers has compiled a 7-9 record in the postseason, and he is 2-4 in playoff games this decade.

Rodgers has one last season to add to his legacy — and help erase some of his and his new team’s postseason failures.