The Pittsburgh Steelers were at the center of offseason chatter due to their prolonged pursuit of veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The team’s passive approach to the position frustrated many fans, as did Rodgers’ apparent lack of interest in signing with Pittsburgh.
The four-time NFL MVP eventually signed just before the start of the minicamp, and so far, reports of his performance at the camp have been good, to say the least. However, Rodgers’ decision-making came under scrutiny when a recent report alleged the four-time MVP blasted his former team, the New York Jets.
This didn’t go well with Colin Cowherd, and the long-time analyst argued the blame for Rodgers’ dysfunctional stint in New York was on him only.
Colin Cowherd Tears Into Aaron Rodgers Over ‘Dysfunctional’ New York Jets Stint
Last year was among the worst statistical seasons of Rodgers’ legendary career. He ended with just 3,897 yards, one of the five-lowest marks of his career, while throwing just 28 touchdowns. His passer rating (90.5) was the worst in his 20-year run in the NFL.
As a result, by the end of the year, he ranked 21st on PFSN’s QB+ metric, behind the man he’s taking over from in Pittsburgh, Russell Wilson, and even rookies like Drake Maye and Bo Nix. He led the Jets to just five wins on the season, and it wasn’t a surprise after he was released by the team.
However, the two sides didn’t end things on the best of terms, and according to his friend and former Super Bowl champion turned NFL analyst, Mark “Stink” Schlereth, Rodgers was fed up with their abysmal running game.
While Rodgers is not wrong in saying the Jets’ run game was awful, they had the second-worst rushing yards per game average, Cowherd argues the QB knew it was the case when he arrived in New York and questioned him for his decision-making.
“For Aaron to be upset with the Jets’ run game and dysfunction, bro, the Jets have been dysfunctional for a decade and a half,” he said in an episode of The Herd on Thursday. “You chose them. This goes to the heart of what I’ve said about Aaron. I’m not saying he’s not smart, and I’m not saying he’s not talented, but I don’t love his decision-making.
“Robert Saleh was on the hot seat. You chose him. Nat Hackett was a disaster in Denver. You chose him. He just lacks an awareness that feels so obvious to me for a smart guy. Aaron led the league as a quarterback in non-football stuff seeping into the locker room. Awareness.”
Is it time for Aaron Rodgers to look in the mirror? @colincowherd pic.twitter.com/0S4UCwUu6u
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) June 19, 2025
Fortunately for Rodgers, the Steelers are a completely different organisation with a stable head coach in Mike Tomlin, who has never had a losing season in 18 years. The Steelers’ run game is much better than the Jets, and they had the 12th-best rushing yards per game last season.
Whether that translates to success remains to be seen, but the chances of that happening are quite low. The Steelers lost several key offensive weapons this offseason, including running back Najee Harris and wide receiver George Pickens. They have replaced them with rookie running back Kaleb Johnson and former Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf, but this roster isn’t much better than a season ago.
Even with Rodgers officially on board, the Steelers remain massive underdogs to win the division. According to DraftKings, the Steelers are +550 to win the AFC North, trailing the Baltimore Ravens (-145) and the Cincinnati Bengals (+230).
