Aaron Rodgers aims to capture another Super Bowl title with the Pittsburgh Steelers, hoping to conclude his career on a triumphant note. However, former Green Bay Packers linebacker Brady Poppinga, speaking on Infinity Sports Network’s Reiter Than You, expressed skepticism about Rodgers’ ability to sustain such success late in his career.
Poppinga, who was drafted alongside Rodgers in 2005 and shared a Super Bowl victory with him five years later, noted noticeable changes in Rodgers’ playing style last season. He observed physical hesitation and a shift in focus from reading the field to prioritizing rush awareness—behavior he believes diverges from that of elite quarterbacks.
“It’s almost like the body is tired and doesn’t want to take the hit,” Poppinga said. “There’s a lot of flinching. I would say his vision is going from reading the field to the rush, which isn’t usually normal for high-level quarterbacks. High-level quarterbacks are kind of able to feel the rush and then they’re able to keep their eyes downfield.”
According to Poppinga, such signs are worrisome for the Steelers’ chances this season and beyond, particularly as they strive to add to their six Super Bowl championships.
“Tom Brady went through it. Brett Favre went through it. Everybody goes through it in the game of football. The problem with that is that, for over 17 games, he’s not going to be able to play at a caliber that’s gonna drive them to be playoff contenders.”
Ben Roethlisberger Questions Rodgers’ Continued Role in Pittsburgh Beyond 2025
Adding to the doubts about Rodgers’ longevity is Steelers legend Ben Roethlisberger, who spoke on his Footbahlin’ podcast about the quarterback’s future with the team. Roethlisberger suggested that Rodgers’ current season could be his final attempt as a Steeler, given his age and recent injury history.
“I don’t think he’s got much more after this year. This might be it for him, personally… He’s coming, one year last year off his Achilles. He’s probably like, ‘I felt pretty good.’ This year, he’s going to be better in the sense of (his) body feeling better. That doesn’t mean he’ll play better. There’s a lot of other factors on that.”
Rodgers is set to make his official debut for Pittsburgh on September 7 when they face the New York Jets in their season opener, with kickoff scheduled for 1 pm ET on CBS.
Implications for Steelers’ Playoff Prospects and Rodgers’ Career
The doubts voiced by both Poppinga and Roethlisberger highlight concerns over Aaron Rodgers Steelers playoff longevity doubts, raising questions about how effectively Rodgers can lead the Steelers deep into the postseason. While Rodgers’ talent remains unquestioned, factors such as his physical resilience and adaptation to game speed are expected to influence Pittsburgh’s quest for playoff success.
As the Steelers begin the new NFL season, all eyes will be on Rodgers’ performance, with stakeholders eager to see if he can overcome these challenges, or if the team must soon consider future options at quarterback. The ongoing discussion underscores the high stakes attached to Rodgers’ tenure with the Steelers and the uncertain trajectory of his final playing years.