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Aaron Rodgers won’t lift Steelers beyond familiar playoff ceiling
Aaron Rodgers has committed to one final NFL season after signing a one-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers for 2026. The contract is worth up to $25 million, with $22 million guaranteed, and Rodgers has made it clear this will end his 22-year career.
Rodgers’ return followed Pittsburgh’s hiring of former Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy, who reunited with the quarterback for one last championship attempt.
Rodgers also embraced the moment publicly. During an offseason trip with teammates, he posted photos on Instagram with the caption, “Last Rodeo.” The Steelers hope that final run produces more than another playoff appearance after winning the AFC North before an early postseason exit last season.
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Still, former Steelers safety Ryan Clark believes expectations should remain realistic despite Rodgers’ arrival.
Ryan Clark sees familiar limits for Pittsburgh
Atlanta, Georgia, USA; ESPN MNF broadcaster Ryan Clark at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
Speaking on NFL on ESPN, Clark questioned whether Rodgers changes Pittsburgh’s long-term outlook. “The ceiling for this team is what we’ve been seeing the last few years, right?” Clark said. “Aaron Rodgers could get this team to nine wins or ten wins, and you maybe sneak into the playoffs or you’re fighting for a wild card.”
Clark also argued the Steelers are not built to challenge the AFC’s strongest contenders. “Nobody expects this team to compete with the New England Patriots, the Buffalo Bills, the Denver Broncos, some of the top rosters in the AFC,” he said.
His comments reflected broader concerns about Pittsburgh’s roster. Clark noted, “This team offensively still has holes. This team, from a defensive standpoint, has to get better at the linebacker position.”
Aaron Rodgers is now 42 years old
That assessment carries weight despite Rodgers’ decorated career. The 42-year-old remains one of the league’s smartest quarterbacks, but he cannot erase weaknesses across the roster. Pittsburgh chose to delay a rebuild by pursuing experienced quarterbacks instead of investing heavily in a long-term successor.
Rodgers still has meaningful goals ahead. He enters the season with 527 career touchdown passes and needs 13 more to pass Peyton Manning for third on the NFL’s all-time list. However, individual milestones will not define Pittsburgh’s season.
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Clark summed up the bigger picture clearly. “We’ll be home by the divisional round thinking to themselves, ‘Are we stuck in quarterback purgatory, or is our next guy in the draft in 2027?'” Unless the supporting cast improves, Rodgers may raise the floor without lifting the Steelers beyond their familiar playoff ceiling.
