The latest iteration of the yearly Aaron Rodgers offseason drama appears to be over. After much speculation, the former New York Jets and Green Bay Packers quarterback is set to be a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Steelers had a shot at Jaxson Dart and Shedeur Sanders, but they ended up with Rodgers. Of course, nothing is guaranteed at age 41 and coming off a well under .500 season. One of his former backup quarterbacks recently weighed in.
Are the Pittsburgh Steelers Now Relevant? Aaron Rodgers’ Former Backup Takes Sides
Taking to X on June 5, former Packers backup quarterback Kurt Benkert believed Rodgers could succeed, but not on his own.
The Steelers defense this year will be one of the better defenses Aaron Rodgers has played with in his career.
If he can get back to his efficiency play, with a nasty run game. They are poised to be an uncomfortable team to play against.
— Kurt Benkert (@KurtBenkert) June 5, 2025
“The Steelers defense this year will be one of the better defenses Aaron Rodgers has played with in his career,” he posted. “If he can get back to his efficiency play, with a nasty run game. They are poised to be an uncomfortable team to play against.”
If the argument sounds familiar, it is. Many believed the Jets had the defense and the running game. They simply needed Rodgers. The Jets were met with a continuation of the story that had preceded Rodgers’ addition: well under .500 and cleaning house after a failed experiment.
Of course, Mike Tomlin has never had a sub-500 season, so the floor appears higher for Rodgers this season than with the Jets at face value. The Steelers defense also earned a 78.7 Defense+ grade from PFSN, higher than the Jets’ at 75.5, so Rodgers will have that going for him heading into 2025. That said, the Jets and Steelers are now linked together in a way due to the offseason result, as an added wrinkle.
Did Jets and Steelers Make a De Facto Trade Between Rodgers and Fields?
While no trade was inked, draft capital was sent, and no talks were had (as far as is publicly known), Rodgers and Justin Fields ended up in a de facto trade scenario. The Jets obtained Fields via free agency, and the Steelers obtained Rodgers via free agency.
As such, one of the essential storylines worth watching in the AFC will be comparing how the Jets do without Rodgers and with Fields to how the Steelers do without Fields and with Rodgers.
Both teams could find themselves stuck with a level of success similar to where they were in 2024, in which neither fan base would be faced with regret or bragging rights. However, if either team succeeds at a new level, it could be a tough pill to swallow for the less fortunate team.
Will Rodgers get back on the winning side of football in 2025?