'he's Back' But How Far Will Rodgers Lead Steelers?

NFL 2025 season

Dates: 4 September 2025 - 8 February 2026

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New Pittsburgh Steelers backmost Aaron Rodgers was kidding no-one.

He whitethorn person played down nan value of making his debut astatine nan squad that efficaciously conscionable fired him, but location was nary hiding his pleasance aft starring nan Steelers to a comeback triumph complete nan New York Jets.

"I was happy to hit everybody associated pinch nan Jets," said nan seasoned aft Sunday's game.

"It was bully to win, particularly proceeding immoderate of nan catcalls retired location and nan boo birds. I'm not delicate astir that. I expected that. I benignant of liked that."

The 41-year-old was fixed a dispute reception connected his return to MetLife Stadium aft 2 disappointing seasons pinch nan Jets - nan first wiped retired by a torn Achilles tendon.

But nan NFL's four-time MVP showed that possibly nan Jets were incorrect successful telling him successful February that they wished to spell "in a different direction".

"There were astir apt group successful nan organisation that didn't deliberation I could play anymore," Rodgers added. "So, it was bully to punctual those group that I still can."

It was surely an awesome commencement pinch Pittsburgh, but tin Rodgers really still do it? And really acold will he lead nan Steelers successful what could beryllium his last season?

Rodgers threw 4 touchdown passes arsenic Pittsburgh fought backmost to triumph 34-32 successful their opening crippled of nan season.

One of those was a flip to Jonnu Smith but nan different 3 were trademark Rodgers, thing Andrew Brandt saw from nan infinitesimal nan Green Bay Packers drafted him successful 2005.

The erstwhile Packers vice-president told BBC Sport: "First believe of that mini camp, [we realised] there's thing typical here. And we've seen it each nan way. He's had this unthinkable expertise for shot placement. It's still there, and it's bully to spot astatine this precocious age.

"I've ne'er seen a subordinate propulsion nan shot successful cleanable places for illustration he tin do. He had a unsmooth 2 years pinch nan Jets, but he's back.

"He's ever had that expertise pinch shot placement. That's ever going to beryllium there. He's mislaid immoderate speed, he's mislaid immoderate beingness ability, but this feline tin sling it."

In his only afloat play pinch nan Jets, Rodgers' passing stats were akin to his last twelvemonth pinch nan Packers, which were somewhat down connected erstwhile he was named MVP for 2020 and 2021.

His Pittsburgh debut was a immense betterment and while his Achilles wounded and precocious years person undoubtedly costs him immoderate pace, he did not tally nan shot overmuch anyway, fixed he remains a pouch passer alternatively than a dual-threat quarterback.

"He's still doing it successful an property wherever nan NFL scenery is changing," said NFL pundit Phoebe Schecter. "The prototype backmost is nary longer what it utilized to be, your Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Drew Brees - who guidelines successful nan pouch and propulsion nan ball.

"Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes - they're truthful different successful their style. They're connected nan move. They usage their assemblage truthful overmuch more.

"Watch that crippled [on Sunday] and look astatine nan measurement [Rodgers] throws nan shot for illustration it's connected a rope. It is truthful perfect."

Rodgers has ever demanded a batch from his team-mates and called retired 1 of his receivers during a post-match news convention past season.

Perhaps Sunday's crippled showed that nan seasoned has mellowed - and that he is capable to compensate for his constricted activity pursuing his season-ending wounded successful 2023.

"He's capable to get nan shot retired truthful accelerated and beryllium truthful accurate, and he's making changes astatine nan statement of scrimmage," said Schecter.

"The measurement his encephalon works, he's for illustration having a coach connected nan shot field.

"He has really developed truthful much, not conscionable from a backmost perspective, but successful position of really he's managing his team-mates," she added.

"There's a awesome illustration successful nan crippled erstwhile DK Metcalf, a prima receiver, drops nan football. Perhaps successful nan past, Rodgers wouldn't person gone backmost to him, but nan adjacent play he gets nan shot successful his hands. That's nan caller type of Aaron Rodgers that we're truthful excited to see."

Rodgers, whose solitary Super Bowl triumph came against Pittsburgh successful 2011, turns 42 successful December, but Tom Brady won his past Super Bowl aged 43 and retired astatine 45.

The Steelers person not won a play-off crippled since 2017 but Mike Tomlin is utilized to grinding retired results as, since becoming their caput coach successful 2007, he is yet to person a losing season.

"I don't deliberation property is nan rumor [for Rodgers]," said Schecter. "I mean, look astatine Tom Brady and what he was capable to do. I deliberation he's changed nan communicative astir what property you tin beryllium successful bid to play this astonishing sport, particularly astatine quarterback.

"And because of [Rodgers'] shot IQ, there's nary defence that he has not seen aliases travel up against successful each of his years, truthful it's really up to him."

What could beryllium Rodgers' farewell circuit continues astatine location to nan Seattle Seahawks connected Sunday.

Pittsburgh play nan Minnesota Vikings successful Dublin connected 28 September and person 2 of nan NFL's champion quarterbacks successful their section - nan AFC North - truthful Rodgers could play 2 games against some Lamar Jackson (Baltimore) and Joe Burrow (Cincinnati).

He is group to look past season's MVP, Josh Allen (Buffalo), and has a reunion pinch Green Bay scheduled for 26 October successful Pittsburgh.

Schecter said: "Does he want to proceed to play aft this? Or is this a play wherever he thinks, I'm pinch a squad who are perennial winners, they ever make it to nan play-offs. They've conscionable been missing that small spice, and possibly Aaron Rodgers tin beryllium that small other spot that pushes them each nan measurement to bring location a Lombardi Trophy."