Rich Eisen Aaron Rodgers
Rich Eisen Aaron Rodgers
Pittsburgh Steelers fans have been frustrated with the team for several years. The franchise’s standard is competing for championships, but the Steelers haven’t been to the Super Bowl in over 15 years, with their last championship win coming almost two decades ago. They haven’t even won a playoff game in almost a decade. However, the Steelers still believe they’re Super Bowl contenders, bringing Aaron Rodgers back for one final season.
Rich Eisen believes the NFL world would be shocked to see Rodgers bring Pittsburgh a championship, though, placing that atop his list of the most mind-blowing things that could happen this season.
“The thing that would blow my mind the most, and would blow everyone’s mind, and it’s entirely possible: Super Bowl champion Aaron Rodgers,” Eisen said Friday on his show. “Steelers win it all. Mike McCarthy comes home and wins it all, and Rodgers strolls off into the sunset… That would blow everyone’s mind.
“Steelers make the Super Bowl, win it in Los Angeles, sort of a home game, Terrible Towels waving in the home of the Rams, and the fact that Rodgers gets to actually live out that dream would blow my mind. That might be the most-possible thing out of all the five on my list here.”
The rest of Eisen’s list included Seattle Seahawks rookie running back Jadarian Price leading the league in rushing yards, the New York Giants winning their division, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson being named Comeback Player of the Year, and Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson being an MVP finalist.
All of those are very unlikely, and any one of those things would be a shock. It’s easy to see why Eisen thinks Rodgers leading the Steelers to a Super Bowl win is the likeliest thing on that list to actually happen.
Pittsburgh leaving this season with its seventh Super Bowl win deserves its spot on Eisen’s list, too. Few legendary quarterbacks have ended their careers on top. Even Tom Brady failed to win a playoff game in his final season.
Plenty of people have already written Rodgers off. He’s not the same quarterback he once was, with much of his athleticism gone.
However, he isn’t completely cooked yet. His arm looks like it still has plenty of strength left. Compare Rodgers now to Peyton Manning in his final season. Manning ended his career with a Super Bowl win, but he was a shell of his former self. His defense carried him to that championship.
Perhaps something similar could happen with Rodgers. The Steelers have plenty of talent, especially on defense. The key will be if they can utilize it correctly. The Steelers’ coaching staff is almost completely brand new, so there’s hope that will spark Pittsburgh.
There are plenty of other storylines that would make a Steelers Super Bowl win mind-blowing, too, like McCarthy winning a championship in his first year coaching his hometown team. It would be the perfect storybook ending for Rodgers’ career. While it might not be likely, as Eisen said, it’s not completely out of the question.