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How the Pittsburgh Steelers are playing it perfectly with ageing legend Aaron Rodgers
When the Pittsburgh Steelers announced Aaron Rodgers as their 2025 quarterback, many NFL observers shook their heads. Why bet on a 41-year-old whose two seasons with the New York Jets had been marred by injury and production concerns?
An Achilles tear wiped out Rodgers’ first year with the Jets. He returned in 2024, but his outputs were modest by his standards. Meanwhile, other veteran quarterbacks on the market had already landed deals elsewhere while Pittsburgh waited to learn his decision.
The risk felt substantial – age catches up, durability becomes fragile, and momentum and mobility fade.
Yet here we are, heading into mid-October, and the Steelers sit at 4–1, riding an offense that seems custom-built around what Rodgers still does extremely well.
Here, I explore how Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers have become the perfect match, united by trust, belief, and shared purpose.
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Rather than trying to resurrect his old gunslinger form, Mike Tomlin and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith have quietly retooled their approach.
They’re not trying to force a 41-year-old four-time MVP into being the Rodgers of old – they’re building around his remaining strengths and insulating his vulnerabilities.
From the opening weeks, it’s clear Pittsburgh has leaned aggressively into the quick passing game.
Rodgers is getting the ball out fast – his average time to throw of 2.2 seconds is his lowest since 2018, when Pro Football Reference began tracking the stat; his average air yards per attempt of 5.4 is also, by far, his lowest over the same period.
That rapid rhythm shortens the window for pass rushers and limits the damage when the protection breaks down.
The results bear out the logic. When Rodgers releases the ball within 2.5 seconds, his passer rating this year has spiked into the 110s, and his completion rate exceeds 70 percent.
But when he’s held past 2.5 seconds, his efficiency drops materially, with his completion rate plummeting closer to mid-50s, and his passer rating drops to 93
That discrepancy underscores precisely why Tomlin and Smith have structured plays to maximize quick rhythm and get receivers into yards-after-catch terrain.
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Once upon a time, Rodgers thrived under pressure, evading defenders from the pocket, moving laterally, and threading narrow windows with his elite arm strength.
But at 41, those escapability and extension traits are less reliable. His mobility is diminished, his window for making off-platform adjustments is compressed, and his tolerance for hits is lower. Thus, Pittsburgh’s plans mitigate that risk.
Joe Sargent/Getty Images
In short, Pittsburgh isn’t asking Rodgers to resurrect his old self. They’re asking him to be elite at what he still can do and insulating what he can’t. It is a delicate balance, but one they’ve hit with surprising precision.
Meanwhile, the wider AFC North complexion presents an opportunity for the Steelers. Injuries to Lamar Jackson in Baltimore and Joe Burrow in Cincinnati have diluted the division’s usual hierarchy.
The Steelers’ understanding of their new aging star quarterback has given them a chance to win the division.
If Rodgers can stay healthy and the coaching staff maintains this delicate balance, Pittsburgh may just have unlocked a late-career renaissance built not on nostalgia but on smart, modern adaptation.
