Aaron Rodgers signed a one-year contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers on May 18, worth $25 million, with $22 million in guarantees. He was finally able to shut down the retirement speculations and is ready to contribute to the Steelers.
Soon after finalizing the deal, Rodgers reported for the organized team activities (OTAs) on Monday. While the Steelers’ front office, fans, and the media are celebrating the quarterback’s return to the locker room, there’s someone who isn’t happy with the relentless coverage of the four-time MVP.
Michael Wilbon Slams ESPN for Covering Aaron Rodgers Non-Stop
In a recent segment of ESPN’s First Take, veteran analyst Michael Wilbon made his main point clear: ESPN is turning routine news about Rodgers into sensational, non-stop coverage.
Wilbon expressed frustration that the network treats every minor update about the aging quarterback as if it were a major event, arguing that this constant attention exaggerates Rodgers’ current relevance in the league.
“He’s overstated. And by the way, I’m not talking about his career. No, Aaron Rodgers is a first-ballot Hall of Famer, a great quarterback for years. He’s irrelevant now. What makes him relevant now? This network talking about him every day, day in, day out, as if they’re hanging on and waiting for, you know, Patrick Mahomes three years ago,” Wilbon said.
“I’m blaming this network, cause every time I turn on all of our shows, except one, I hear about Aaron damn Rodgers…I’m criticizing us…he’s irrelevant” – Michael Wilbon pic.twitter.com/5rF6ImtvQD
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 19, 2026
He added, “They’re a third-place team in their own division, unlikely to be able to pass Cincinnati or Baltimore this year… I’m blaming this network because every time I turn on all of our shows except one, I hear about Aaron damn Rodgers. It makes it sound like I’m criticizing Aaron Rodgers, I’m not. I’m criticizing us… He’s irrelevant. Period.”
Wilbon’s criticism centers on how ESPN’s repetitive coverage blurs the line between rightfully acknowledging Rodgers’ past achievements and unnecessarily dominating sports headlines with constant coverage of him now, which, in his view, is unwarranted.
Rodgers’ illustrious NFL career is a statement in itself: 21 seasons, four MVPs, a Super Bowl, 10 Pro Bowl selections, 66,274 career passing yards, 527 touchdowns, 65.1% completion rate, and 264 games. But the factor that seems to add to the frustration is uncertainty.
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Last season, Rodgers joined the Steelers as an unrestricted free agent for a base salary of $13.65 million. In 16 games, he threw for 3,322 yards, completing 327 of 498 passes with 24 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. According to PFSN’s QB Impact Metric, he posted an impact score of 71.1 last season, ranking 29th at the position.
While the stats showed efficiency, the Steelers finished the season 10-7, securing 1st place in the AFC North. But they lost 30-6 to the Houston Texans in the Wild Card round.
The Steelers haven’t won a playoff game since 2016, and that remains the franchise’s biggest concern. While Rodgers reunites with head coach Mike McCarthy for his 22nd season, navigating the AFC North division against the Ravens and Bengals would be an uphill battle.
