Reports now confirm that quarterback Aaron Rodgers will play the 2025 NFL season with the Pittsburgh Steelers, ending a long offseason filled with speculation.
Of course, along with such a high-profile signing will come the inevitable flood of opinions, and not all will be positive.
Marcus Reacts to Aaron Rodgers Joining the Pittsburgh Steelers
Former players, analysts, and fans are making their voices heard all over the internet, so you know that former Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marcus “Swagu” Spears has something to say.
And apparently, he is not thrilled.
Spears, who shared his thoughts on X, said, “I’ve been opposed to this because I don’t think it fixes anything long term, which should be the focus for Pitt…” The analyst continued, “But hey man let’s see what this looks like...”.
AR on his way to Pittsburgh. As the world turns in NFL. I’ve been opposed to this because I don’t think it fixes anything long term which is what should be the focus for Pitt but hey man let’s see what this looks like 😳. Im not shocked at all
— Marcus Spears (@mspears96) June 5, 2025
Spears finished his post by saying, “I’m not shocked at all,” he’s certainly not alone. However, with the signing finally official, we wanted to get ahead of what it could look like on the field.
Rodgers Fit in Pittsburgh
At Pro Football & Sports Network, the Steelers ranked 24th in offense, which is concerning because the New York Jets ranked 25th due to Rodgers’ ranking as QB21 according to our QB+ metric. Let us look at what helped Rodgers’ stock last season.
As the 2024 regular season began to wane, the veteran QB and his trusty No. 1 target from his time at Green Bay, Davante Adams, finally got on track, resulting in a reasonably nice uptick in Rodgers’ stats. Comparatively, Rodgers earned a top 10 QB+ grade in only two of the 10 games in Weeks 1-10, whereas during Weeks 11-18, he earned a top 10 QB+ grade in three of the seven games.
Adams was acquired midseason via a trade with the Las Vegas Raiders and asked to adjust on the fly. The connection with Rodgers played up, but the two had not been together for three years, and it took time for them to adjust to the skill set changes that came with age. However, the pairing eventually proved potent.
In Pittsburgh, new addition wide receiver D.K. Metcalf will claim a healthy portion of targets from Rodgers, and he is every bit as physically imposing as Adams, in addition to being five years younger.
Is it unbelievable to think that the version of Rodgers that ended last season could be the version Pittsburgh gets from start to finish in 2025?
DK Metcalf Fit in Pittsburgh
Metcalf’s arrival should propel the Steelers’ offense forward despite the departure of George Pickens in a trade with the Dallas Cowboys. Consider end zone targets since 2019:
DK Metcalf: 104
Mike Evans: 91
Davante Adams: 81
Tyler Lockett: 70
Stefon Diggs: 69
The 6’4” 235-pound athlete is a good fit for any offense but he is an interesting add for a Steelers attack that has been grounded in recent years.
Since 2021, Pittsburgh has been 24th in overall dropback rate, a ranking that falls to 29th if you only include snaps taken when the game is within a single score. And who could blame them?
The quarterback talent has been sporadic at best, and the receiver play has been inconsistent. This move should give the coaches more confidence in calling plays and, more importantly, in finishing drives.
Of course, the offensive line remains a concern. While having Rodgers in town elevates the ceiling, the floor remains low.
The Steelers play seven games next season against defenses that ranked inside the top 10 in non-blitz pressure rate in 2024, meaning that if this unit cannot improve up front, this move will struggle to pay off.