With Aaron Rodgers now leading the Pittsburgh Steelers after a few underwhelming seasons with the New York Jets, many are already questioning what he’ll bring to the table—and how long he’ll stick around. Some remain unsure if he’s a clear improvement over last year’s starter, Russell Wilson, but The Athletic’s Mike DeFabo offered his take, projecting what could be ahead for Rodgers in Pittsburgh.
Although Aaron Rodgers enjoyed a long run of success with the Green Bay Packers, his performance has declined at age 41. In a recent column, Mike DeFabo predicted that the “most likely” scenario is Rodgers delivering an average season, prompting the Steelers to select a quarterback in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
“By far the most likely scenario is that Rodgers plays this season in Pittsburgh at about a middle-of-the-road level, and then the Steelers draft a rookie QB in the first round in 2026. Though it’s unlikely Rodgers will stick around for a second season, I wouldn’t completely rule it out. He’d need to play well enough to push the Steelers out of position to draft a top QB, the team would need to be wishy-washy about its options and Rodgers would need to commit immediately. I’m not sure I see all those things happening, but you never know,” DeFabo wrote in an article.
Aaron Rodgers with the Steelers
Since the Steelers and Aaron Rodgers finalized their deal, fans have been buzzing with speculation about how far the veteran quarterback can take the team. After finishing 10-7 last season and placing second in the AFC North, Mike DeFabo suggested he could see Pittsburgh putting together another nine- or ten-win campaign with Rodgers under center.
“If the defense can play at a top-10 level (as it has in each of the past three seasons) and the investments in the offense line help the running game improve, I see the Steelers as a nine- or 10-win team that will be fighting in the final weeks of the season to qualify for the playoffs,” DeFabo continued.
Regardless of the skepticism, Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers is out to silence the doubters when they kick off the season on Sunday, Sept. 7—and fittingly, they’ll do it against Rodgers’ former team, the New York Jets.
