Could Skepticism be working in Steelers favor?

The NFL 2025 season is fast approaching and there have been many changes to rosters among the 32 teams readying for another season. The Pittsburgh Steelers are no exception with some significant moves that bring new faces to the team. Leading the way is obviously the signing of Aaron Rodgers. Jalen Ramsey was recently added to the mix. Rodgers gets a gift weapon as Pittsburgh traded for receiving stud DK Metcalf.

It seems the moment Aaron Rodgers came aboard the skeptics came out of the woodwork with predictions of a non-playoff season despite having an all-time great barking the signals on offense. Their skepticism begins with Rodgers’ age. Heading towards 42 years of age this year, many believe Rodgers is past his prime and might not even make it to the end of the season either because of his age, poor play, or injury.

However, there are some who believe Rodgers will surpass his numbers from 2024 that he put up when he was quarterbacking the New York Jets and will get the Steelers to the playoffs but most likely not be able to get Mike Tomlin over the hump that has plagued him, that being getting through the first round of the post season. With that said, a strong draft and some key free agent signings have given the 2025 version of the Pittsburgh Steelers some hope.

Initially when the Steelers were wooing Rodgers and then actually signing him, I too was a skeptic but not because of a lack of skills but more so relating to his attitude and demeanor. Aaron Rodgers has never been a likeable person but put that aside and given his experience and a word from a GM in the league, that executive said the Steelers got a steal. He said this dude can still wing it. 

I’m confident most fans in Steelers Nation would rather be the underdog and not a team expected to challenge for the Super Bowl. It seems year in and year out our Pittsburgh Steelers are not expected to be a team other squads should fear. It’s my feeling that we should like it that way. Let there be skeptics because if Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers make some serious noise this season, they will be doing it without a lot of pressure.

Since the Black and Gold are not expected to be much of a threat, they can take the field with less pressure and while teams they face will expect the challenge will not be great, our boys can go out and smack teams in the face. Still, there is legitimate talent on this team. Omar Khan and Art Rooney II must resolve the T.J. Watt contract situation but aside from being one of the greatest defenders in Steelers history there are other players on the team who can cause a lot of damage on the field in 2025. 

DK Metcalf’s accomplishments speak for themselves. We all know what Aaron Rodgers is capable of. While Jaylen Warren is now the starting running back with Najee Harris now a Charger, watch out for rookie Kaleb Johnson. The word on the rook is he may even become the starter before the season ends. He is that dangerous or, so we are told. To protect Aaron Rodgers or whoever ends up behind center, Broderick Jones is moving to a new position on the line and last year’s top rookie Troy Fautanu returns from injury after missing his entire rookie campaign and what I’ve heard is he is the best looking o-lineman in OTAs and practices thus far. That’s a great sign for Mike Tomlin.

As for T.J. Watt, we certainly hope he will return and come back in top form. Even without him, the linebacking corps is downright threatening. Payton Wilson had a fine rookie year with several amazing plays, and he can only get better. Nick Herbig seems to be turning into another Watt. Cole Holcomb returns from injury, and if he is as good as he was pre-injury that’s a huge plus for the defense. Alex Highsmith is a clone of Watt. Now we have drafted Ohio State’s Jack Sawyer, and he just comes off as a typical hard nosed Steelers defender. 

Linebackers are just one part of the defense. The way the Steelers got bumped out of the playoffs last season by Baltimore put a stinger on Mike Tomlin and the team. It was an embarrassing loss, and they simply got run over by the Ravens. Knowing that, in this year’s NFL draft the Steelers who many expected would be drafting Shedeur Sanders instead went the way of defense and gave Cameron Heyward a linemate in Derrick Harmon. Yahya Black was also drafted and at 6’5” and 336 pounds he will add a load to the defensive front. Keeanu Benton is expected to contribute in a big way again as is DeMarvin Leal. 

Having Jalen Ramsey in the secondary could turn out to be a huge addition if he can return the form he showed earlier in his career. Veteran Brandin Echols was brought in from the New York Jets joining Aaron Rodgers as an ex-Jet from 2024. Beanie Bishop played very well last season for the most part so he too will solidify the secondary. 2025 represents an especially important season for Joey Porter Jr. who didn’t perform as well as he did in his rookie season so much is expected of him. Another veteran in Darius Slay joins the group and while he is in the twilight of his career, his experience will be a major factor.

There are some who have Mike Tomlin on the hot seat, especially knowing he has not won a playoff game since 2016 and is riding a five game first round playoff losing streak. With a chance to draft Shedeur Sanders or another quarterback, Tomlin and Omar Khan waiting until the fifth round to grab a QB that being Will Howard who I personally liked more than any other quarterback available because he just seems “Steelers like.” But Tomlin, Khan, and Art Rooney II all had their sights set on Aaron Rodgers at any cost.

Rodgers has said this will be his final season so this experiment is a one year deal and if it fails, the aforementioned trio will be held responsible. The bottom line I believe is the 2025 Pittsburgh Steelers have nothing to lose and everything to gain. If they fail to make the postseason, there will be those who say this is what was expected. If they do make the playoffs and lose in the first round, the words will be same old, same old. At that point, Art Rooney might want to start thinking about major changes starting with Tomlin. 



The best thing that can happen is that Rodgers and the Steelers get to the postseason and win at least the first game. Then we can start looking ahead to 2026 and Will Howard as the next Ben Roethlisberger or Terry Bradshaw. The biggest loser in all this offseason happenings? Mason Rudolph. He was brought in after a year with the Tennessee Titans and probably thought he was coming back as the starter. Now he has been shoved aside and is the backup to Rodgers and it remains to be seen that if Rodgers suffers an injury or plays poorly, will Tomlin go to Mason or Howard?