Despite not winning a playoff game in almost a decade, Art Rooney II still thinks the Pittsburgh Steelers can compete for a Super Bowl this year. That would be a big step forward, but there aren’t many people who view that as a reality. A lot of fans wanted to see the team rebuild now that Mike Tomlin is gone. They’re not getting their wish, though. The Steelers are operating like a team that wants to be a playoff threat. However, former NFL corner Aqib Talib isn’t so pessimistic about Pittsburgh’s championship hopes.
“I’m not saying they’re gonna win the Super Bowl,” Talib said recently on The Arena podcast. “All I’m saying is, if [Aaron Rodgers] wants to win a Super Bowl, that team is set up for him to do so.
“You look at the roster, offense, defense, receivers, running backs, line, trenches, corners, safeties, d-line. If you look across the board, if I want to win one more Super Bowl as a quarterback, why wouldn’t I stay here? They had a chance last year.”
Yes, the Steelers won the AFC North last year, and they’ve arguably only improved their roster this offseason. However, more context is required there.
The AFC North had a down year in 2025. Injuries held the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals back. Had they been healthier, then the Steelers’ season might’ve gone differently. It still took a miraculous missed field goal in Week 18 for the Steelers to make the postseason. Then, the Houston Texans crushed them in the first round of the playoffs.
Also, Rodgers is only going to be another year older. Father Time has been catching him the last few years. While he was fine last season, at 42 years old, is he going to make it through another season?
The Steelers’ roster has weaknesses other than quarterback, too. The left side of their offensive line has question marks, and their wide receiver depth isn’t pretty. Additionally, many of their defensive stars are on the wrong side of 30. They could also regress in 2026.
You can argue that the Steelers could solve some of those problems in the draft. They have plenty of picks to use. However, it seems unlikely that they’re going to draft a starting quarterback.
That’s the most important position in football. It’s hard to say if Rodgers can elevate the Steelers enough to compete against some of the AFC’s top teams. They should look to win a playoff game before they set their eyes on the Super Bowl.
Recommended for you