The Pittsburgh Steelers’ recent offseason has been notable for its shift away from their typical draft-and-develop approach, opting instead to bring in veteran players. One of the most prominent additions is quarterback Aaron Rodgers, whose arrival places significant focus on the offensive line and running game heading into the 2025 season.
Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinee Bill Cowher addressed this transition during an appearance on “Beyond the Booth.” Cowher said, “I think the biggest thing for them this year is kind of development of the offensive line. Say what you want. They’re young. And they need to be able to keep Aaron upright. And hopefully, Arthur Smith can get the running game going. It takes a lot of pressure off Aaron.” Cowher continued by noting that Rodgers’ abilities as a mobile quarterback have declined compared to earlier in his career.
Rodgers’ statistics from recent seasons support Cowher’s assessment. His completion rate on passes over 20 air yards has dropped from 42.9 percent in 2020 to just 35.4 percent last year, along with increased interceptions over the past two seasons.
Steelers legend Ben Roethlisberger echoed these concerns: “Can Aaron have enough time to throw the ball? – You’re only going to be as good as your o-line is. If they can give Aaron time, watch out.” Roethlisberger emphasized how critical protection will be for Rodgers if he is to lead an effective offense.
Rodgers himself set clear expectations for his protection unit during training camp after backup quarterback Skylar Thompson was knocked down in practice. Addressing his teammates, Rodgers stated, “Don’t you ever let that happen again. – you guys are the policeman out there. You’re the big brothers out there. You protect everybody, from DK [Metcalf], to me, to whoever’s in there at quarterback or whoever’s in there at running back.”
Offensive coordinator Arthur Smith commented on improvements being made during preseason play: “We don’t try to trick anybody in the preseason or show your hand too much, things we may want to use Week 1 or Week 2, of the regular season. But just the basic stuff, there was improvement there from Week 1 to Week 2 (in the preseason), and that was encouraging.”
Beyond changes at starting quarterback and coach responsibilities for shoring up offensive weaknesses, competition at backup quarterback also came into focus during preseason games where Skylar Thompson stood out over Mason Rudolph through improved performance statistics.
Head coach Mike Tomlin noted Thompson’s experience when speaking with reporters: “He’s got playing experience. This guy started games in Miami. I think that experience shows – and we’re talking regular-season games.”
As Pittsburgh prepares for its next chapter under Rodgers’ leadership and with coaching efforts focused on revitalizing both pass protection and rushing capabilities, questions remain about whether these offseason decisions will translate into success once regular-season competition begins.
