In the aftermath of the Aaron Rodgers signing, Pittsburgh Steelers fans sparked new hope for the 2025 season. We knew there was a good chance the 41-year-old quarterback would ink a deal with Pittsburgh, but his presence is an immediate upgrade over the rest of the pedestrian quarterback group.
However, one former player and current NFL analyst thinks Pittsburgh just entered 'worst-case scenario' territory.
ESPN analyst Ryan Clark bashed the Steelers for their decision to sign Rodgers. Clark, who played under head coach Mike Tomlin for more than half of his NFL career, believes that the team just signed fans up for mediocrity.
"This is the worst-case scenario for Pittsburgh Steelers fans," Clark said on ESPN. "It continues to keep you mired in mediocrity. Will this team be better? Have they gotten better in the quarterback room? Absolutely. Will they contend for that championship that Pittsburgh Steelers' people, fans, and the organization thinks is the standard? No, they won't."
Clark didn't hold back on his frustration with Pittsburgh's decision to sign Rodgers. He continued by all but predicting a ninth consecutive season without a playoff win.
"They'll be fighting for a Wild Card spot, they'll probably be home Week 1 of the playoffs, and again be looking for a franchise quarterback. If you told me you were going to pair one of this era's greatest coaches with one of this era's greatest quarterbacks, I'd expect greatness. That is not what we will get. Maybe six years ago, but not now."
With Aaron Rodgers signed, the Pittsburgh Steelers need to go all in for 2025
I hate to admit it, but Ryan Clark is right. When you spend a ton of time watching these other teams from the AFC, you can see that, even with Aaron Rodgers, the Pittsburgh Steelers won't be able to compete for a Super Bowl, and their future is in limbo.
And if you can't compete for a Super Bowl, what is it all about?
In their current state, most would expect the Steelers to see another nine-to-ten win season (something they've done each of the past four years). But with a bit more help, Pittsburgh can be more threatening.
Before Rodgers was signed, the Steelers were eyeing trades for offensive weapons like Jonnu Smith and Kyle Pitts. Adding another pass catcher to the mix would ensure that Rodgers has every weapon at his disposal for a successful 2025 season.
The Steelers have tried to ride the fence between building for the future and finding players that can help them win the present. Rodgers is 41 years old. Cam Heyward is 36 years old, and T.J. Watt will turn 31 early in the 2025 season. This could be Pittsburgh's last legitimate shot to compete for a while. They need to make win-now moves now that Aaron Rodgers is here.