Pittsburgh Steelers fans are used to a certain level of success. So when it comes to describing their biggest fears, it's not bottoming out; it's being perennially mediocre. Unfortunately, the latest power rankings just ahead of the 2025 season play on the fears we already have.
FaSided site expert Sayre Bedinger recently released his NFL power rankings ahead of the 2025 NFL season kickoff. To nobody's surprise, Bedinger has the Steelers listed as the 16th-best team in the league—smackdab in the middle of the pack.
"I will admit, I’m extremely skeptical that the Steelers’ marriage with Aaron Rodgers – the only Aaron Rodgers marriage we know about – is going to work out this season," Bedinger wrote. "This is supposed to be the swan song for Rodgers in the NFL, and something about it just feels off."
Bedinger didn't hold back with his thoughts on Aaron Rodgers.
"We saw Rodgers playing well late last season for the Jets, but he’s once again got completely new surroundings," Bedinger continued. "I believe in the inevitability of Mike Tomlin, however, so I would have to guess that nine wins for this team is probably the floor…right? The question is, what is the ceiling?"
The Pittsburgh Steelers fanbase knows this team has a lot to prove in 2025
Until proven otherwise, it's hard to slot the Pittsburgh Steelers anywhere higher than 16th in the 2025 season kickoff power rankings. Nobody is going to argue that this team is worse on paper, but until they go out and prove it, fans and media members aren't buying into Mike Tomlin's squad.
Last year, many were duped into believing the Steelers were going to contend, only to watch quarterback Russell Wilson fall apart over the final five games of the season and into the playoffs. Both sides of the ball crumbled down the stretch, and the Steelers showed their true colors.
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With a 41-year-old quarterback at the helm who led the New York Jets to a record of just 5-12 last season, we can understand why many are playing it cautious with the Steelers in the power rankings. One more year removed from the Achilles injury and on a better organization, Rodgers could do enough to quickly help improve the outlook of this team.
Regardless of who's at quarterback, Mike Tomlin manages to get his team to a nine or ten-win season just about every year. If the Pittsburgh Steelers come out of the gate swinging, there's room to climb in the early-season power rankings.