Pittsburgh Steelers fans know all too well that Aaron Rodgers isn't the same quarterback he once was. This was the guy who torched the Steelers in the Super Bowl XLV all the way back in February 2011 and who earned four MVP awards with the Green Bay Packers. At 42 years old, it's unreasonable to expect him to be a 'Tier 1' QB in the NFL in 2026.
But where does Rodgers currently rank among his NFL peers? According to NFL executives and coaches, it's 19th, clumped with a bunch of 'Tier 3' quarterbacks.
On Tuesday, The Athletic's Mike Sando published an article compiling the QB tier rankings voted on by 50 NFL coaches and execs. These NFL personnel placed a tier label on each starting quarterback. Rodgers earned just one 'Tier 1' vote while earning 19 votes for 'Tier 2', 26 votes for 'Tier 3', and even four votes for 'Tier 4'.
Like it or not, the league believes the Steelers firmly have a 'Tier 3' quarterback for the upcoming season... and fans have a right to wonder whether the ceiling is capped with Rodgers at the helm.
Aaron Rodgers' 'Tier 3' label gives Pittsburgh Steelers fans cause for concern
Joining Rodgers in the third tier of quarterbacks are Denver Broncos' Bo Nix, Houston Texans' C.J. Stroud, Carolina Panthers' Bryce Young, and Minnesota Vikings' Kyler Murray. Rounding out the 'Tier 3 group were Jaxson Dart, Cam Ward, Tyler Shough, Tua Tagovailoa, and Kirk Cousins.
This isn't exactly the cream of the crop.
The Athletic noted that Rodgers' career has steadily declined since 2023, dropping from a longtime 'Tier 1' quarterback down to 'Tier 3'.
“The offensive scheme was limiting last year,” an unnamed defensive coach told The Athletic. “His mobility is not great, but as a dropback passer and one of those guys you do not want to face in two-minute, if he has pieces around him, he can still go win.”
This was evident on film last season. Rodgers looked timid from the pocket and got rid of the football faster than any starting quarterback in the league. Meanwhile, he ranked near the bottom of the NFL in advanced stats like air yards per pass attempt, air yards per completion, and drop-back success rate.
Rodgers' latest tier ranking gives Steelers fans cause for concern, and rightfully so. Thankfully, there's one factor that could help him escape this narrative: Mike McCarthy.
Rodgers had a future first-ballot Hall of Fame career under McCarthy, and though it's been over four years since they've been together, McCarthy could help get the most out of his aging quarterback (assuming there's still a bit of gas left in the tank).
Rodgers' days of being a 'Tier 1' quarterback are long gone at this rate. But perhaps there's a chance he could rise to the 'Tier 2' level of QB play in what he's already deeming will be his final NFL season. And if he does, the Pittsburgh Steelers will at least have a chance to make a splash in 2026.
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