When the Pittsburgh Steelers arrived at the picturesque, sprawling 200-acre campus of St. Vincent College in July, they didn’t know what to expect. On the back of a 10-7 record that looked good only on paper, the memories of a disheartening 28-14 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in the Wild Card Round last season, and a revamped QB room headed by Aaron Rodgers, there’s two ways it could’ve gone: First, the front office quietly realizing that they’d make a mistake. Thankfully, it went the second way.

Rodgers successfully permeated the team with his charm, building bonds that, he believes, will be the foundation for the team’s rejuvenation. It was the type of training camp that even compelled Mike Tomlin to admit about his new QB: “Rodgers has a willingness to articulate the game and teach others; a patience for young people…Tireless communication about football and what we’re aspiring to get done. I think it’s indicative of someone with his resume.” Yet, for those hoping (including Rodgers himself) that the veteran signal-caller will single-handedly turn the tides, get ready for a rude awakening.

Earlier this week, Rich Eisen called a special guest to his namesake show: His youngest son, Cooper. And it was apparent from the get-go that the boy was not taking the chance lightly. At one point, he asked his father, “Which quarterback do you have more faith in, this season: Aaron Rodgers or Bryce Young?” To this, the sportscaster answered, “Oh, I’ll go Aaron Rodgers. Come on now. Yeah. What a disrespectful question that is.” However, the son asked again, “Is Aaron Rodgers the reason why the Steelers will go over .500 this year?” That’s when Eisen casually handed the world the truth without mincing any words: “I think it’s just the roster as a whole.”

To some, this simple sentence was a blunt reminder that while Rodgers is the headline grabber, Pittsburgh’s foundation has been steady long before he walked in the door. His presence? Just another cog in a machine built to grind out wins. Eisen then unpacked it all—praising Bryce Young’s bounce-back second half, mentioning, “His second half was extremely great last year”, and wondering aloud why the Panthers would move Adam Thielen: “Thielen had a good end of the year too”. Still, the radio host circled back to Rodgers, calling him “a first-ballot Hall of Famer,” before finishing with a confident forecast: “I think Rodgers is going to have a very nice season for the Pittsburgh Steelers.”

Well, of course! This Steelers team has plenty of firepower beyond the quarterback. They’ve stocked up on talent all over the field, including DK Metcalf, Jonnu Smith, Jalen Ramsey… And even promising youth like Derrick Harmon and Jack Sawyer. And don’t forget their depth at quarterback: Mason Rudolph, and Skylar Thompson, who’s been quietly stealing the spotlight recently. So, despite the tough schedule ahead—10th hardest in the league, as per ESPN—they’re still set with an over/under win total of 8.5 after winning 10 games last season.

To wrap it up, unless Rodgers can lead them deep into the playoffs and break that drought, his presence is unlikely to redefine the Steelers’ identity or their winning legacy. But as the spotlight on Rodgers dims and the pressure grows, Mike Tomlin’s praise for another QB shines bright.

Mike Tomlin raves about backup QB

After the Steelers’ 19-10 preseason win over the Carolina Panthers, Skylar Thompson didn’t just play well; he impressed. Completing 11 of 13 passes for 152 yards and a touchdown, Thompson looks like he’s more than just a placeholder. 

Tomlin was unapologetically straightforward about Thompson’s preseason breakout: “He’s got playing experience. This guy started games in Miami. I think that experience shows — and we’re talking regular-season games.” Translation? Thompson isn’t some raw rookie. He’s a seasoned QB who knows the grind.

Tomlin’s confidence signals the Steelers don’t have a one-man-band mentality, especially at quarterback. The trust in Thompson shows a willingness to rely on homegrown, battle-tested players rather than just relying on one QB like Rodgers. If Thompson manages to secure more playing time, it throws a little shade on Rodgers’ spotlight, reinforcing that Rodgers is just another cog in the steady Steelers machine.