When the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offense completely imploded on Sunday night, Aaron Rodgers went down with it. What was supposed to be a statement game for the 41-year-old quarterback turned into a nightmare performance, and one person who refused to look away was ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith.
Following the Steelers’ 25–10 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, Smith took a shot at Rodgers, leaving no doubt about how he viewed the veteran’s sharp decline.
Why Did Stephen A. Smith Put Aaron Rodgers on Blast?
During Monday’s edition of First Take, Smith didn’t hold back his frustration over what he saw from Rodgers. “He was awful,” Smith said on air. “It was clearly his worst performance as a Steeler. Three sacks. Season worst 50.6 passer rating. Couldn’t complete a pass. Was under-throwing, was over-throwing. Looked jittery in the pocket. Most importantly he looked moody.”
.@stephenasmith didn’t hold back on Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers 😯
“He was awful. It was clearly his worst performance as a Steeler.” pic.twitter.com/eaReDJekBR
— First Take (@FirstTake) November 10, 2025
Rodgers’ final stat line reflected his struggles, as he completed only 16 of 31 passes for 161 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. But Smith’s critique went beyond the box score, pointing to a lack of command from the veteran quarterback.
“Didn’t look there if you get what I’m saying,” Smith continued. “How you gonna take a sack in the end zone from Khalil Mack like that? You got to be more aware of that. OK? That’s number one.”
Additionally, the frustration extended beyond a single bad game. Smith highlighted several concerning trends for the team this season.
“Oh for five on passes 15 yards or more downfield. Didn’t make a pass. You ain’t won a primetime game this year. OK? Chargers have won every primetime game they’ve been in. That’s not good. Two-for-11 on third downs. Two-for-11? 29th ranked total offense. 28th ranked total defense. Their defense is now better than the offense.”
That outburst underscored just how far the Steelers’ offense has fallen. Despite an offseason built around the promise of Rodgers’ leadership, the unit has become one of the league’s weakest.
The analytics paint a similarly mediocre picture for Pittsburgh. According to PFSN’s Offense Impact metric, the team holds a 75.7 score, ranking 14th overall for the 2025 season and earning a “C” grade. The team’s 5–4 record reflects a campaign in which the offense has failed to establish a consistent rhythm or explosive playmaking ability.
The raw numbers from Sunday certainly back up Smith’s frustration. Rodgers’ 50.6 passer rating was his fifth-lowest in any game he has ever started and finished. His 161 passing yards were among the lowest of his career, and the two interceptions marked the third time this season he has thrown multiple picks in a game. Before the 2025 campaign, Rodgers had only done that 22 times in 248 career starts.
At 41 years old, the decline is becoming harder to ignore. While Rodgers has shown flashes of his former brilliance this season, the consistency has vanished. The anticipation, timing, and confidence that once defined his play seem to have been replaced by hesitation and misfires. As Smith’s passionate critique made clear, this performance was not just a rough patch, it might be the new normal.
