Aaron Rodgers to the Pittsburgh Steelers is finally official. The mystery man officially signed his one-year contract worth up to $19.5 million on Saturday after agreeing to terms with the team a day prior. At 41, Rodgers enters the season with questions surrounding how much gas he has left in the tank—and how long he’ll stick around.
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Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin and the front office opted for a short-term solution over a long-term investment, banking on Rodgers’ experience to make an immediate impact. The move signals a clear “win-now” mentality, as Pittsburgh passed on selecting a young quarterback prospect like Jaxson Dart, Tyler Shough, or Shedeur Sanders in the draft.
On their podcast Nightcap, former NFL stars Shannon Sharpe and Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson weighed in on the move. Johnson believes Rodgers gives the Steelers a glimmer of hope in the highly competitive AFC North, where teams like the Ravens, Bengals, and Browns remain formidable.
However, the gamble isn’t without risk. Ochocinco warned that if Rodgers doesn’t reignite the Steelers’ offense and the experiment falls flat, he could put Tomlin’s job on the line. With expectations high and time short, Rodgers and Pittsburgh have little margin for error.
“If he doesn’t play well, you know, players get coaches fired now, and Tomlin could be on the hot seat. He had the whole organisation waiting.” Johnson said.
However, the Steelers showed their continued faith in Mike Tomlin by signing him to a three-year contract extension following the 2024 season. Shannon Sharpe supported the move on his podcast Nightcap, arguing it would be illogical for Pittsburgh to part ways with Tomlin so soon after committing to him long-term. Additionally, “the Steelers haven’t fired a coach since ’69. I was born in ’68. I’m about to be 57, so they haven’t fired a coach in 56 years.”
Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson, however, wasn’t convinced, pointing out that extensions offer little protection in the NFL, where both players and coaches are often let go before their deals expire.
Tomlin, now entering his 20th season at the helm, has been a model of consistency. He holds a career record of 191-118-2 (including postseason), has captured seven AFC North titles, made two Super Bowl appearances, and won Super Bowl XLIII. Notably, he’s never had a losing season or finished last in the division.
Still, the Rodgers experiment introduces a new kind of pressure. If the season spirals—if Rodgers falters or the team underperforms—some believe the Steelers may be forced to consider a fresh start. While firing Tomlin would go against everything the organization stands for, a disastrous season could push even the most loyal front office to rethink its direction.
So, could Tomlin be on the hot seat if things go south? History says no, but in the NFL, even the most ironclad reputations can be tested.
