It’s difficult to become great without taking risks. Omar Khan and the Pittsburgh Steelers front office know that truth better than most. For years, Pittsburgh hovered in that frustrating middle ground — too talented to rebuild but never quite good enough to contend. This past offseason, Khan decided to break that cycle.
The conservative approach to roster building was thrown out the window in favor of bold, aggressive moves aimed at bringing leadership, experience, and a spark back to the Steel City.
Among all the headline acquisitions, one name stood tallest — Aaron Rodgers.
The four-time MVP arrived with expectations of rekindling championship ambition. And for much of this season, he’s done exactly that, bringing composure and credibility to an offense searching for identity. But in a Week 10 Sunday Night loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, Pittsburgh’s belief in its veteran quarterback faced its harshest test yet.
Simply put, Rodgers turned in his worst performance in the black and gold — and it came when the team needed him most. A primetime duel that was supposed to showcase Pittsburgh’s new-look offense quickly turned into a showcase of everything still broken.
The opening drives set the tone: sluggish execution, miscommunication, and missed opportunities. For years, Pittsburgh fans have watched this pattern repeat — a defense fighting to keep the game close while the offense sputters. Rodgers was supposed to end that cycle, but on Sunday night, his play only deepened the frustration.
The Pittsburgh Steelers must evaulate Aaron Rodgers' role after a disspointing Week 10 loss
Usually, Rodgers’ presence alone is enough to give his team a chance. But this time, his calm confidence gave way to visible discomfort. His inability to escape pressure — something age and time have stripped away — derailed drives and killed momentum.
The defining moment came midway through the second quarter when Rodgers was sacked in his own end zone for a safety. What should have been a veteran’s steadying performance instead became a reminder of time’s undefeated nature.
When points were hard to come by for both sides, Pittsburgh felt further from the end zone than the scoreboard showed. Rodgers completed just 16 of 31 passes, threw two interceptions, and finished the night with a 50.0 quarterback rating. He was sacked three times and failed to help the offense stay in the game.
READ MORE: Steelers’ ugly first half confirmed every fan fear about this offense
The stats tell a story, but the body language told an even louder one.
It wasn’t surprising — but it was disappointing. Every quarterback, even legends, has bad nights. But this one carried a deeper message. Rodgers is still immensely talented, but his physical limitations make it clear that he can no longer carry a flawed roster.
Don’t get me wrong — I’m grateful Rodgers is in Pittsburgh. He’s brought professionalism and accountability this team desperately needed. But Sunday night was telling. Rodgers may still have the mind and arm of a Hall of Famer, but his body is sending a different message.
The Steelers’ decision to keep after the 2025 season is understandable, but it’s also revealing. It's clear his age is a deterrent to his previous production. Still, Rodgers isn’t the entire problem — he’s just the band-aid covering a deeper wound. Until Pittsburgh builds an offense capable of thriving beyond its quarterback’s heroics, it’ll continue to fall just short of greatness.