The Pittsburgh Steelers are stuck in quarterback limbo, and head coach Mike Tomlin is taking heat for it. After cycling through Russell Wilson and Justin Fields last season, the team now finds itself banking on 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers, who hasn’t even stepped on the field for OTAs yet.
Insiders are questioning whether Tomlin has any real plan at the position, with Brian Batko from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette bluntly stating that the Steelers appear to have “zero vision at QB.”
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Steelers’ QB Strategy Keeps Changing
The Steelers’ approach to the quarterback position has been all over the place. First, they prioritized mobility, bringing in Fields. Then, they pivoted to veteran leadership, handing the reins to Wilson. Now, they’re hoping Rodgers can fix everything, despite his declining numbers.
Batko summed it up perfectly:
“It all kind of just makes you think Mike Tomlin is flying by the seat of his pants depending on whatever (sometimes brutal) options are out there.”
It’s a harsh assessment, but one that reflects the lack of consistency in Pittsburgh’s decision-making.
Aaron Rodgers: The Latest Gamble
Rodgers is expected to call his own plays, but how does that fit with an offense that ranked 30th in rushing last season? The Jets struggled to establish a ground game, and now the Steelers are expected to bring in a quarterback who threw the second-most passes in the league while posting a 25th-ranked QBR.
Arthur Smith, the Steelers’ new offensive coordinator, is expected to trust Rodgers more pre-snap, but that doesn’t erase the concerns about whether this offense can function efficiently with him at the helm.
And if Rodgers bails before the season? Batko had a brutally simple solution:
“Sign Carson Wentz and call it an offseason.”
Aaron Rodgers was asked at an event this weekend whether he would ever consider playing for the Bears and, in turn, might have provided a hint of his plans for the 2025 season. (The Steelers do play in Chicago).pic.twitter.com/o5qozmrAfG
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 24, 2025
What’s Next for the Steelers?
The Steelers are walking a fine line. If Rodgers works out, Tomlin’s gamble might pay off. But if he struggles, or worse, doesn’t play at all, Pittsburgh could be looking at another lost season.
Fans are frustrated, insiders are skeptical, and the Steelers’ quarterback situation remains one of the biggest question marks heading into 2025.
For now, all eyes are on Rodgers, but if things go south, expect the criticism of Tomlin’s decision-making to get even louder.