The Pittsburgh Steelers and Aaron Rodgers have had quite the offseason together. In fact, the Steelers and Rodgers dominated offseason headlines as Pittsburgh searched for answers at quarterback. After months of speculation, the Steelers re-signed veteran quarterback Rodgers for another year. While Rodgers is one of the greatest ever to line up behind the center, there has been doubt among many if he can still contribute at the level he did during his heyday with the Green Bay Packers. One NFL Analyst has major concerns for the Steelers and Rodgers heading into the 2026 season.
NFL Analyst Concerned for Steelers and Rodgers in 2026
Those concerns are not limited to opposing fan bases or social media debates. They are also beginning to surface among national NFL analysts. During an appearance on First Take, ESPN’s Kevin Clark explained why he believes the Steelers have more reason for concern than many realize, citing Rodgers’ advancing age and a noticeable shift in his play last season.
“I’m worried about the Pittsburgh Steelers. When you look at Aaron Rodgers’ numbers from last season—we’re talking about one of the most talented quarterbacks ever to play the position, and he still has a lot of great qualities—but he threw the ball quicker and shorter than virtually anyone on record in football last year.”
Clark is not debating Rodgers’ career resumé. It’s a résumé that can’t be argued. What Clark wants to know is whether the Rodgers who is arriving in Pittsburgh this year will consistently elevate the offense around him in 2026 and beyond. While his mental acuity for dissecting defenses and making timely decisions has always been stellar, it’s the decision to rely on shorter, quick passes that can sometimes indicate a quarterback adjusting his style of play because of the realities of aging, as opposed to one aggressively attacking a defense as he used to in years past.
That is what the Steelers will be asking this year. They’re not bringing Rodgers in to be a game manager. They are betting he’ll help them compete against the likes of Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow and Josh Allen.
Rodgers 2025 Stats Support Clark’s Argument
Clark’s concerns about the Steelers and Rodgers are backed up by what unfolded throughout the 2025 season. While he finished with a respectable 3,322 passing yards, 24 touchdowns, and just seven interceptions, the numbers also reveal a quarterback who was far more conservative than the version that won four MVP awards. Rodgers averaged only 6.7 yards per attempt, completed 65.7 percent of his passes, and finished with a 94.8 passer rating, production that reflects efficiency more than explosiveness. He also generated just 38 completions of at least 20 yards on 498 pass attempts, reinforcing Clark’s point that Pittsburgh’s passing game relied more on quick decisions than pushing the ball downfield.
Those statistics are solid by most standards, but they also support the argument that Rodgers is no longer consistently creating the chunk plays that once defined his career.
Uncertainty of Steelers and Rodgers
Questions surrounding the Steelers and Rodgers are not going away until the games begin. Rodgers has built a career proving doubters wrong, and Pittsburgh believes there is still enough left in the tank for one more championship run. At the same time, Clark’s concerns are rooted in more than opinion. They are supported by a noticeable shift in Rodgers’ style of play over the past season. Whether that evolution is simply the next phase of a legendary career or a sign that his best football is behind him will go a long way toward determining how far the Steelers and Rodgers can go in 2026.
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