This offseason has brought a lot of change to the Pittsburgh Steelers. While much of their roster is still the same, including Aaron Rodgers under center, Mike Tomlin and most of his coaching staff are gone. Mike McCarthy has replaced Tomlin, giving some fans hope that the team will break the cycle it’s been stuck in for the past few years. However, former NFL linebacker LaVar Arrington had an interesting way of framing his thoughts on the 2026 Steelers.
“I’m more of a skeptic because not enough has changed to make me not more skeptical about them,” Arrington said recently on his 2 Pros and a Cup of Joe podcast. “I think their defense will be good. It can be great, but it’s an aging defense…They’ve made some nice additions.
“But I still find myself looking at Aaron Rodgers as the biggest question mark…I know they have history, but with a new coach, you’re placing the season at the feet of Aaron Rodgers. I don’t have a high level of confidence that he will play at a high enough level for this team to be any better than what they were last season.”
It feels like Rodgers could make or break the Steelers’ season. He’s 42 years old, and few signal callers continue to play at a high level at that age. Quarterback is the most important position in the game, and the Steelers have been held back by poor quarterback play in the past. If Rodgers regresses, they could be in for a long year.
However, there are reasons to believe that Rodgers won’t be a negative asset this season. First, he arguably exceeded expectations in 2025 while throwing for 3,322 yards with 24 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. While he was far from perfect, the Steelers won some games because of him.
Also, Rodgers has had a lot of success in McCarthy’s offense before. He was in that system for more than a decade with the Green Bay Packers. It shouldn’t take much time for him to fit back into it. Perhaps being in a more familiar system will help Rodgers play better than he did in 2025.
The Steelers’ offense around Rodgers looks better, too. Michael Pittman Jr. is a solid No. 2 receiver, and there’s some excitement around rookie Germie Bernard. Additionally, the Steelers’ young offensive line could take another step forward, keeping Rodgers upright more.
Are there reasons that support Arrington’s skepticism? Yes, but the Steelers’ offense doesn’t look totally hopeless. The team’s defense could be better with a new coaching staff in place as well. That doesn’t mean the Steelers are going to be Super Bowl contenders, but perhaps they could finally win a playoff game.
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