Barstool Sports’ Pardon My Take podcast recently released their NFL quarterback rankings, placing Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers eighth overall—nestled in a tier curiously titled “Technically Super Bowl Champions.”
The name itself sounds more like a backhanded compliment than a celebration of legacy. Rodgers, alongside Russell Wilson, Matt Stafford, and Jalen Hurts, made the list.
The implication? These quarterbacks were great, but are they capable of winning another championship?
It’s a fair question. But it’s also the perfect fuel for a quarterback like Rodgers.
At 41, and with retirement already looming on the horizon, Rodgers isn’t pretending he has five years left. He signed a one-year, $13.65 million deal with the Steelers for one reason: one last ride. One shot at adding a second Lombardi Trophy to his résumé.
And he picked the right city to chase history. Pittsburgh is built on grit, pride, and legacy. Rodgers knows that. That’s why he’s here.
Aaron Rodgers is capable of having his best season with the Pittsburgh Steelers
Sure, critics and analysts—including PMT’s Dan Katz—are right to wonder if Rodgers still has an MVP-caliber season left in him. He’s endured a devastating Achilles injury, and he’s a long way from the cannon-armed magician we saw in Green Bay during his prime.
But here's the thing: Rodgers isn’t trying to be 2011 Rodgers. He’s trying to be the best version of 2025 Rodgers—experienced, precise, and motivated by the clock winding down.
And that makes him more dangerous than ever.
Rodgers now has more in common with the league’s young guns than most people realize. Like Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, and Jayden Daniels, he’s fighting to prove something. Not just that he can still play—but that he can still win.
That hunger is what puts him in a unique place. Rodgers isn’t coasting on legacy; he’s chasing one final chapter.
So yes, Pardon My Take’s “Technically Super Bowl Champions” tier might sting a bit—but maybe that’s the point. Motivation comes in many forms.
For Rodgers, being lumped in with aging stars rather than elite contenders is exactly the kind of spark he’ll carry into training camp.
I would not be surprised if it leads to a storybook ending. Rodgers didn’t come to Pittsburgh to retire quietly. He came to win.