Steelers Season Preview – Away We Go!

This writer has been a fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers since 1972. Those years gone by account for many seasons of football. Now we are set for yet another 17 games at least of Black and Gold football as the 2025 season is set to get underway in a few weeks.

For all the seasons of football I have watched, there have been many I had high anticipation for, many I was excited to see get underway, but for this forthcoming 2025 season, I’m not as excited as I have been in previous seasons before opening day rather this season that approaches, I’m more intrigued about the prospects of success more than ever before. Why?

The primary interest obviously lies with the acquisition of Aaron Rodgers. A future hall of fame quarterback made the decision in the offseason to have his swan song for his football career finish in the Steel City. Steelers owner Art Rooney II, GM Omar Khan, and Head Coach Mike Tomlin made it their intention to woo Rodgers to Pittsburgh at any cost. It worked.

The Pittsburgh Steelers and Aaron Rodgers were the hottest topic in the offseason among all NFL conversations. Many are predicting that the 41-year-old soon to be 42 does not have it anymore. There are some GMs around the league though that have said the old man can still wing it. While all the conversation stems around Rodgers, there are many more factors to the Steelers getting back to the postseason and actually winning a playoff game something they have not done since 2016 and have suffered through five straight first round playoff losses. 

Before we look at other areas of the team, consider last year when Rodgers played in all 17 games for the New York Jets. His numbers were nothing to frown about. Given the talent around him, Rodgers still finished with 3,897 yards passing. He tossed 28 touchdown passes. Only 11 of his passes were picked off. His completion percentage was a cool 64%. On a downside he was sacked 40 times. With those 40 sacks he still went the distance without an injury. 

Now with a new team, it is of my opinion that he has better weapons in 2025. The Steelers have Troy Fautanu back and healthy after missing his entire rookie season due to injury. He’ll be at right tackle while Broderick Jones moves back to his more natural position on the left. This offensive line should be better than what Aaron Rodgers found himself behind in 2024. 

Rodgers has plenty of toys to work with and there are so many new faces on the team that were acquired by free agency, trades, and the draft a sign that Mike Tomlin and Omar Khan are all in this season. They want to win that elusive playoff game. With D.K. Metcalf as the #1 receiver, speedy Calvin Austin on the other side, the massive Darnell Washington to throw to, Rodgers will sustain many successful drives.

It doesn’t stop there. Scotty Miller has been very impressive in the preseason and another rookie who did not make it on the field last season due to injury, Roman Wilson has something to prove. Najee Harris has left for Los Angeles now playing for the Chargers, so the starting running back job was handed to Jaylen Warren but look out for rookie running back Kaleb Johnson. The 6’1” 224 pound running back is explosive. He may even surpass Warren for the starting job before the season ends.

Behind Rodgers is the always steady Mason Rudolph but I believe Skylar Thompson actually outplayed Rudolph in the preseason so both men could make the final cuts. The tight end position could be special this season. Pat Freiermuth now has a hall of fame quarterback throwing to him. It will be much different than the disappointing play of Justin Fields and Russell Wilson a year ago.

The Steelers acquired Miami’s Jonnu Smith earlier this year and Darnell Washington’s name has already been mentioned bringing to the offense a height of 6’7” and weighing in at a crazy 264 pounds. That’s nearly offensive line weight. Now that the offensive hopes have been set up, I put more weight for another winning season on the defense. After a great start last year, the D faltered in the end and got run over in Baltimore. Believe you me, I am in the opinion that this year’s defensive unit is going to be special. Let’s take a look at what we have in store.

It begins of course with T.J. Watt. Now the highest paid defensive player, that should be enough motivation for Watt to prove last year’s performance especially in late season was just a fluke. But now Watt has some new faces joining him on that side of the ball, which is why I believe this defense will be special.

The 2025 first overall pick in the draft Derrick Harmon unfortunately suffered a sprained knee in the final preseason game and is out a month. While that puts a damper on the defense, the defensive front should still be formidable with Cameron Heyward, Keanu Benton, and Logan Lee filling in for Harmon until he returns. But one name to keep an eye on is Yaha Black. He is a dark horse on defense with some untapped skills that will show once he gets playing time. 

Also up front defensively is Isaiahh Loudermilk who can hold his own. Behind the defensive front is where the Pittsburgh Steelers linebacking corps will be an absolute force this season. What we will know before the season is over that Pittsburgh has one of the best if not the top linebacking corps in the league. At linebacker it’s built around T.J. Watt. Joining Watt is veteran Patrick Queen who now with a season under his belt on the Steelers defense should be even better than before. Then you have Alex Highsmith who is much like Watt in applying pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

The Steelers have spent the last several years building this unit with a focus on players that are modeled after one of the greatest sack men and ball strippers in the NFL with the name T.J. Watt. Nick Herbig and Payton Wilson resemble the style of play that Watt puts out on the field and both are ball hawks and great tacklers. This year they drafted Jack Sawyer from the national champion Ohio State Buckeyes, and he too has a motor that doesn’t stop. Sawyer joins his teammate from 2024 Will Howard who might be Pittsburgh’s quarterback of the future. 

Cole Holcomb is back from injury and if he returns to form then it makes the linebackers that much more dangerous. As for depth at this position Mark Robinson is a solid player as is Malik Harrison and DeMarvin Leal adds to the talent. With roster cuts coming prior to the season some of these players may not make final cuts. 

In mentioning new faces, there are several in the secondary with a few coming in with outstanding credentials. It begins with Jalen Ramsey, the former Jaguars draft pick and Ram defensive back who at one time was considered the best at his position in the league.

Ramsey is still young, and he is on the dept chart as the nickel back and you can count on him getting a few interceptions this season.

This is a crucial season for Joey Porter Jr. after a sparkling rookie season he dropped off a bit last year and is out to prove he is one of the league’s best. DeShon Elliott returns for another season in Black and Gold and then there are several new faces in much proven Darius Slay and other first year players for the Steelers after playing elsewhere in Brandin Echols and Juan Thornhill. As for depth we have Miles Killebrew and Beanie Bishop.

The bottom line is that this defense is no joke and if they can get opposing offenses off the field quickly and provide good field position for Aaron Rodgers and the offense, this will carry the 2025 Steelers a long way and most likely once and for all past the first round of the playoffs.

It all begins Sunday September 7 at 1:00 in New Jersey when the Steelers open the season facing the New York Jets. This might be the most watched or the game with the highest interest in all the opening day games. Why? Aaron Rodgers gets to throw against the team he played for last season but on the flip side, Justin Fields gets to do the same taking snaps against Pittsburgh after starting the first six games last season. 

This first game will be not just intriguing but entertaining. The Steelers have had the Jets number since their meetings first took place and fans of the Green and White for New York might be the most frustrated fan base in the NFL after longing for years that their team become a factor in the playoff race again.

For the Steelers a fast start is very important and a bad game from Aaron Rodgers will result in a lot of “I told you so.” Most Steelers fan believe this is a make-or-break year for Mike Tomlin. Win a playoff game or go is the sentiment from many. 



For Aaron Rodgers he has nothing to lose and everything to gain. If he is unsuccessful with Pittsburgh, he can look at it as that was what was expected. But if Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers go deep into the playoffs, it will show the old man still has it and he will have saved Mike Tomlin’s job.