The Pittsburgh Steelers’ latest decision could go very well or age poorly very quickly.
Fans and analysts seem to be torn between their admiration for Aaron Rodgers the player and concerns about Aaron Rodgers the character.
More than that, they also believe in him as a four-time NFL MVP, but they can’t ignore the debacle of his past three seasons.
Former NFL quarterback Ryan Leaf recently said he’s optimistic as a Steelers fan, to the point where he’s already made a related purchase.
“I’m going to be honest, I ordered a No. 8 black and yellow jersey last night,” Leaf said, via SiriusXM NFL Radio.
“I’m going to be honest, I ordered a No. 8 ‘Black & Yellow’ jersey last night.” @RyanDLeaf talks about the fit for Aaron Rodgers in Pittsburgh
🔗https://t.co/FtQYrmDliN#HereWeGo | @BillLekas pic.twitter.com/zL1UIgpIT1
— SiriusXM NFL Radio (@SiriusXMNFL) June 11, 2025
Leaf said Rodgers can blend into the team without having to be the face of the franchise.
If he buys into that and just focuses on playing football, this could be a great move for Mike Tomlin’s team.
Then again, Leaf also admits that, from an analyst’s standpoint, Rodgers hasn’t looked great recently.
There’s a strong case to be made for and against Rodgers.
On the one hand, he’s one of the greatest players of all time, and with a quarterback of his caliber, it doesn’t matter how much he’s struggled in recent years.
On the other hand, even if he manages to turn back the clock, stay healthy and lead the Steelers to the playoffs, he isn’t the long-term solution.
Only time will tell how this move will ultimately be judged, and it will be one of the key NFL storylines to keep an eye on this season.
