Aaron Rodgers Quietly Fades Away After Mike Tomlin Announced Decision on Steelers QB

For the second straight year, ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky ranked the best of the best QBs in seven different skills: arm strength, ball placement, mechanics, decision-making, pocket presence, rushing ability, and second-reaction creativity. Orlovsky considered only starters for this, and the lists consisted of various names like Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, and several others. But I digress.

Aaron Rodgers… Don’t think ranking low wouldn’t have skipped the radar, but the fact that he never really made it to the lists wasn’t going to go unnoticed. Andrew Fillipponi, for one, who discusses sports in Pittsburgh on 93.7 The Fan, raised a meek little finger. “Dan Orlovsky ranked QBs by QB traits. No love for Aaron Rodgers a top 10 all-time QB who ended up on ZERO top 10 lists. Meanwhile Geno Smith ended up on 3. Wow,” he wrote on X. But this wasn’t the case last year.

What’s interesting is that Orlovsky ranked the veteran fifth in arm strength in 2024, eighth in mechanics, and first in decision-making! Rodgers is a four-time MVP, and while he isn’t at his peak, he still seems to be the best QB the Steelers have had since Ben Roethlisberger’s retirement. In fact, despite a sad 2024 season with the Jets, he showed flashes of who he used to be in his prime. Take, for instance, his four passing touchdowns in Week 18 against the Miami Dolphins.

While the Steelers moved away from Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, they were quite enthusiastic about the 41-year-old Rodgers. Many consider him to be a clear upgrade when compared to Wilson. Both veteran QBs had similar success rates and expected points last year. However, Aaron Rodgers was able to avoid negative plays at a higher rate than Wilson.

Now with the Steelers, Rodgers is in a system that looks more sound than the Jets’ underwhelming and scattershot one. But here’s the thing: Beyond the stats, Rodgers graded out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 18 quarterback last season. What’s surprising is that Wilson was 15th.

Plus, there are other issues that the Steelers must pay attention to with the veteran. Not only is he 41, but he also picked up multiple injuries in the last couple of seasons. The 2023 season ended prematurely as he injured his Achilles tendon in Week 1. Towards the end of the 2024 regular season, he picked up an MCL injury in Week 16, although he played through it the following week as well.

No wonder he still talks like he has got it. But the whispers say otherwise, especially after the Steelers threw $375 million at a roster overhaul built for right now. And so far, camp hasn’t exactly been kind.

Aaron Rodgers was left out in Mike Tomlin’s bold gamble

Mike Tomlin made it clear early in the week—Aaron Rodgers wasn’t touching the field against the Jaguars. Sitting starters in preseason isn’t exactly groundbreaking for Tomlin, but this time it’s different. He is not just shelving a few big names. He is parking more than a dozen starters, and Rodgers might not take a single snap all preseason. That is not even a move he pulled when Ben Roethlisberger was limping through the twilight of his career. And considering Rodgers signed late with Pittsburgh, it’s a calculated step.

Rudolph and Thompson will handle quarterback duties for the team in its preseason opener against the Jaguars. And though Rodgers won’t play, he intends to stay on the sidelines and observe everything that takes place. “Sometimes people freak out on there and start yelling and screaming. Or other times people are talking that shouldn’t be talking. But I’m more of the comic relief on there, at least Week 1, with some timely or ill-timely jokes…” Rodgers said a day ago.

“You might be looking at one in 2025,” Tomlin said last week. “Hey, this guy has been doing this for 21 years. His cumulative snap total and what’s required for him to be ready is different than others. And so if I’m not adaptable and open to adjustments relative to the needs of our guys, then I’m not doing my job. And so you might be looking at one of those coaches in 2025.”

In Tomlin’s eyes, Rodgers doesn’t need that kind of tune-up. He just needs to be standing when it counts. What do you think?