The opinions around the Pittsburgh Steelers’ pursuit of Aaron Rodgers are all over the map, both positive and negative. But former NFL linebacker and current FS1 analyst Emmanuel Acho is firmly in the opposing camp.
During a segment on “The Facility,” Acho called Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin’s interest in Rodgers “the biggest blunder of his career.”
NFL Analyst Rips Steelers’ Mike Tomlin for QB Misses
Acho didn’t hold back when criticizing Tomlin, ripping the Steelers’ coach for what he sees as a major failure to secure a starting quarterback while players like Russell Wilson, Justin Fields, and Sam Darnold signed elsewhere.
“I would suggest this is the biggest blunder of Mike Tomlin’s coaching career. This is the equivalent to Mike Tomlin throwing a game-losing pick-six. This is the equivalent to Mike Tomlin missing the tackle in the hole and the running back Shady McCoy scoring a 90-yard touchdown run. This is the biggest blunder of Tomlin’s coaching career.”
Acho didn’t stop there — he broke down exactly why Tomlin’s approach to the quarterback situation has left him confused.
“You’re going to go into a season with Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson? That’s what you gon go into the season with? You could’ve kept Russell Wilson for, obviously at this point in time now we know, $10 million. Hell, you could’ve got Justin Fields for $20-$25 million.
“If you really wanted Sam Darnold and that tickled your fancy for the $30 million, go ahead and do so, but now you don’t go to Sam Darnold, you don’t go to Justin Fields, you don’t go to Russell Wilson, and you’re waiting on a person who doesn’t even care for time.”
As things stand, Wilson has landed with the New York Giants, Fields signed with the New York Jets, and Darnold went out west to play for the Seattle Seahawks.
“Aaron Rodgers, he has no concept of time. Aaron Rodgers moves to the beat of his own drum, so to me, the only person the Steelers have to blame is Mike Tomlin…
“How do you not have a quarterback, and that is the most important position in ball?” Acho finished.
There are still signs Rodgers could end up in Pittsburgh. Over the weekend, he had a throwing session with newly acquired DK Metcalf.
The Steelers could also still grab a quarterback in the draft, so it’s not like Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson are their only options.
“This might be the biggest blunder in Coach Tomlin’s career. This is equivalent to throwing a pick 6.”@EmmanuelAcho on whether the Steelers should be frustrated with Aaron Rodgers pic.twitter.com/osFxwQu2at
— The Facility (@TheFacilityFS1) March 31, 2025
PFSN’s Latest Steelers Mock Draft
In PFSN’s latest seven-round mock draft by Brentley Weissman, here’s who he has the Steelers taking across all 257 selections:
- No. 21 overall: Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky
- No. 83 overall: Damien Martinez, RB, Miami (FL)
- No. 123 overall: Kyle McCord, QB, Syracuse
- No. 156 overall: Jaylin Lane, WR, Virginia Tech
- No. 185 overall: Carson Vinson, OT, Alabama A&M
- No. 229 overall: Carson Bruener, LB, Washington
If this mock draft proves accurate, the Steelers will at least walk away with McCord if the Rodgers situation doesn’t work out.