Even with the potential addition of Aaron Rodgers, one of the four-time Most Valuable Player’s former teammates thinks it’s too early to call the Pittsburgh Steelers a Super Bowl contender. Former NFL wideout James Jones, who won a title alongside Rodgers in Green Bay, isn’t sold on Pittsburgh being ready to take the next step. On FS1’s “The Facility,” Jones pointed to lingering questions on defense, the offensive line, and an unproven run game as reasons why Rodgers alone won’t push them over the top.
James Jones Says It’s Premature to Say Aaron Rodgers Would Make Steelers Dangerous
Jones discussed what the Steelers could accomplish this season if they added the future Hall of Fame quarterback.
.@89JonesNTAF says it's premature to say Aaron Rodgers would make the Steelers dangerous: pic.twitter.com/ePC6V4Ztyx
— The Facility (@TheFacilityFS1) May 6, 2025
“Dangerous?” Jones asked. “I don’t know yet, man. Time waits for that. I’ve got to see how this Steelers team is going to play out, but I would say if they got Aaron Rodgers that they’ll be back in the playoffs, but I can’t erase what I’ve seen from the Pittsburgh Steelers with Russell Wilson in the game last year.”
Jones pointed to a few areas where the Steelers didn’t show him championship-caliber play in 2024.
“I can’t erase how bad the defense was playing,” he said. “I can’t erase the offensive line play. Even running back-wise, I know they drafted the young kid out of Iowa, but running back-wise they weren’t explosive in the run game, neither, and you bring Aaron Rodgers there, who’s 41 years old — my dog is up there with me — you know, I don’t know what it will look like.”
The Steelers’ defense finished eighth in points allowed last season, giving up 347 points, or 20.4 per game. During a four-game losing streak to end the regular season, they allowed 109 points, or 27.25 per game. Pittsburgh’s season ended with a 28-14 loss to AFC North rival Baltimore in the wild-card round.
As for the offensive line, the Steelers surrendered the ninth-most sacks in the league with 49. Wilson, who started 11 games, was sacked 33 times, while Justin Fields, who started the other six, went down 16 times. Wilson was sacked another four times in the playoff loss to the Ravens.
Pittsburgh finished 11th in rushing with 2,166 yards in 2024 and tied for 17th in yards per carry at 4.1. Najee Harris led the team with 1,043 rushing yards before signing with the Chargers in free agency.
The Steelers drafted Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft last month. In his final season with the Hawkeyes, Johnson ran for 1,537 yards on 240 carries — good for 6.4 yards per attempt — and scored 21 touchdowns.
Jones still believes the Steelers will make the playoffs for a third straight season, but he sees little beyond that.
“So, I’m going to say playoffs,” Jones said, “but I’m not really ready to say they’re a true Super Bowl contending team right now if Aaron Rodgers walks in the building. I have to wait for that strictly because of what I’ve seen from the defense with Russell Wilson in the game.”
Jones played with Rodgers in Green Bay for eight of his nine NFL seasons. He caught 360 passes for 5,195 yards and 51 touchdowns in 136 games as a Packer. He was part of the 2010 team that won Super Bowl 45, 31-25, over the Steelers. Jones caught five passes for 50 yards in Rodgers’ only Super Bowl appearance.