Considering the circumstances, the Pittsburgh Steelers got about as much as they could have expected from the quarterback position last year. They employed Aaron Rodgers, who turned 42 in December, as the starter, with Mason Rudolph stepping in on occasion as well. Neither of the two were perfect, but with more talent around them, maybe the Steelers could have finished the season on a better note.
NFL.com’s Nick Shook ranked all 63 quarterbacks to start a game during the 2025 season on Wednesday. Aaron Rodgers came in 16th, the third tier of the rankings.
“Aaron Rodgers bested Father Time for much of 2025 and is the primary reason the Steelers even reached the playoffs. He produced some of his best games of the last three or four years and can definitely still fill a starting job somewhere in this league if he wants it,” Shook wrote.
There were some rough moments, and Aaron Rodgers was limited, as any quarterback his age would be. But for the most part, he turned in an impressive season. Rodgers still showed off his vintage arm at times and threw four touchdown passes in games against the New York Jets and Cincinnati. When the talent around him was clicking, Rodgers proved he could still operate an offense.
The impact he made in the locker room is also worth mentioning. He earned a lot of flak for the way his time with the Jets ended, but Rodgers really put that behind him in Pittsburgh. He said all the right things, clearly had the respect of the locker room, and really seemed to enjoy his time with the Steelers.
A time that might not be over. With Mike McCarthy taking over, the chances of Rodgers coming back seem to be growing by the day.
Rodgers isn’t the only Steelers QB on Shook’s list, either. He ranked Mason Rudolph 39th, in the fifth tier.
“Mason Rudolph played well in relief of Aaron Rodgers and kept the Steelers afloat in his only start, but his lower ceiling also showed us why he’s a backup at this point in his career,” Shook wrote.
Rudolph’s lone start came against Chicago. And to his credit, he did help put 21 offensive points on the board. Unfortunately, he just couldn’t do enough to get the Steelers the win on their final drive. There were some other tough moments, like an ugly interception during his only drive against Buffalo.
However, he did provide the Steelers with some quality play at times. He entered in relief of Rodgers in the win against Cincinnati and completed 12-of-16 passes for 127 yards and a touchdown. The Steelers don’t expect him to be anything but a spot starter. And he was mostly fine in that role last year. However, his roster spot is one to keep an eye on, depending on how the Steelers approach the position this offseason.
Rodgers and Rudolph were fine in 2025. But their performances also prove the Steelers need to find a long-term answer at the position.
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