The Pittsburgh Steelers have high hopes for the 2025 campaign after signing legendary quarterback Aaron Rodgers to a one-year, $13.65 million contract in free agency earlier this month. One former NFL general manager, Mike Tannenbaum, is on the opposite end of the spectrum, as he doesn’t believe the pairing will be very successful.
After letting both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields walk in free agency, the Steelers found themselves stuck in a lengthy waiting game with Rodgers this offseason. He eventually decided to return for what he recently revealed will likely be his final year in the league, with the hope being that he can lead Pittsburgh on a deep postseason run.
Making the playoffs hasn’t been an issue for Pittsburgh in recent years, as they have qualified for the postseason in four of the past five campaigns. The problem is actually winning in the playoffs, as the Steelers have not won a postseason game since all the way back in 2017.
Rodgers is being brought to town to change that, but Tannenbaum doesn’t think that’s going to happen. When asked about Pittsburgh’s playoff prospects with their new star quarterback in town, the former New York Jets general manager bashed the team for thinking they have a shot against the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC North.
“No,” Tannebaum simply replied when asked on “Get Up” whether he thinks the Steelers will win a playoff game in 2025. “He’s gonna be 42 in December, no offseason program, and best-case scenario, they are the third-best offense in their division … I give him a lot of credit for coming back one more time, I just don’t see this working by the end of the season.”
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In 2024 with the New York Jets, Rodgers threw for 3,897 yards and 28 touchdowns, but the team won just five games, prompting their new regime to move on from the legendary passer and release him early in the offseason. Interestingly enough, the Jets ended up signing Fields to be their new quarterback for the 2025 season.
Whether or not Rodgers can turn back the clock one more time before calling it a career remains to be seen, but expectations have been raised for the team in the wake of his arrival. If they can compete in their tough division, they could make Tannenbaum look like a fool for this take.
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