This season will be one last ride for Aaron Rodgers in the NFL. He’s returned to the Pittsburgh Steelers and plans on retiring once the year ends.
Rodgers is one of the best quarterbacks ever and is looking to put a nice bow on his career. But at 42 years old, the four-time MVP might find it tough to outrun Father Time. Former NFL quarterback Matt Hasselbeck recently gave his take on how Rodgers can end his career on a high note.
“I think he’s gonna do really well, as long as he has learned from his mistakes when he was with the New York Jets,” Hasselbeck said on ESPN Milwaukee’s YouTube channel. “I think you’ve got to change how you play as you get older. You can’t be Michael Jordan anymore. I think you’ve gotta be a little more point guard, distributor.
“I don’t think he needs my advice, I think he probably has learned it, but you need to lean in on the run game… You don’t necessarily move the way that you want… His arm can probably play for 10 more years,” Hasselbeck continued. “But I don’t think his body is as elusive. I think he needs to change the style of play. Sometimes you’ve got to humble yourself and allow yourself to be coached, even when you’re one of the greatest of all time… If he can tweak his game a little bit, I think they could win that division.”
Hasselbeck is speaking from experience. He played until he was 40 years old, going 5-3 as a starter in his final season. While he clearly wasn’t the same player, he still performed alright, throwing for 1,690 yards, nine touchdowns and five interceptions.
The key is that Hasselbeck helped his team win games, despite his abilities declining. Rodgers still has some gas left in the tank, but he can’t play at the same superstar level.
The Steelers have the pieces to follow Hasselbeck’s advice, too. Their young offensive line is starting to come together. They also have two quality running backs in Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle. Rodgers shouldn’t have to carry Pittsburgh’s offense.
However, if the Steelers were going to lean on their run game to support Rodgers, that probably would’ve happened last year. Arthur Smith’s system seemed better designed for that. His scheme has usually focused on the run game.
In comparison, Mike McCarthy’s offense tends to center more on the pass game. Most of his previous experience as an NFL head coach was with Rodgers under center, too. Now with the two reunited, are they going to fall back on what previously worked for them?
That doesn’t sound like a great idea. Rodgers can’t do the same things that he did when he was in his prime with the Green Bay Packers. McCarthy should probably do things slightly differently with Rodgers this time around.
That doesn’t mean the quarterback should completely take a backseat. However, the Steelers should try to take as much pressure off his shoulders as they can.
It’s a long season, and they won’t want Rodgers’ tank to be on empty near the end of the year. Their schedule to end this season looks daunting. That might be when the Steelers need Rodgers most.
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