Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) scrambles against the New England Patriots in the first half at Gillette Stadium
‘It’s Undeniable’ — NFL Analyst Claims Aaron Rodgers Is Holding Steelers Back Amid Disappointing 2026 Run 1
The veteran quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Aaron Rodgers, entered the 2026 season with a lot of expectations from fans. This season is his 22nd NFL season, as Rodgers signed a one-year contract to return to Pittsburgh after the Steelers finished 10-7 and won the AFC North in 2025. The season didn’t start the way the Steelers had planned, as
was seen struggling throughout the game.
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May 28, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) participates in OTA drills at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
In a recent episode of The Herd with Colin Cowherd, analyst Robert Mays talked about Rodgers and how he is holding the Steelers back and said:
“This offense feels like it’s rooted in a different time. He’s trying to play the position in a way that’s rooted in a different time. They are in spread formations on 40% of their snaps. So far this year, the league average is 14%, and there are only five teams above 20%.”
He also said:
“If you don’t have massive talent advantages on the outside, you can’t play that static in that pre-snap. And that’s what Rodgers and the Steelers are trying to do. And I just think in the modern NFL, it’s a nonstarter. This is something I’ve had people tell me that were teammates of Aaron. He wants to do it his way. Once he got the Super Bowl, it’s like, OK, this is what I’m going to do and this is what I’m not going to do. So you can go get a DK Metcalf and you can go get a Michael Pittman, but there’s a structural component here they’re not addressing.”
"He is trying to play the position in a way that is rooted in a different time… They're trying to play the sport in a way that no one is trying to because that's what Aaron wants."@colincowherd & @robertmays break down how Aaron Rodgers is holding the Steelers back pic.twitter.com/gKjCqSgYGM
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) September 25, 2026
Mays also questioned the fact that the organization believes adding more players around Rodgers would solve the problem. However, the main problem is not just the veteran quarterback. The bigger issue could be the structure of the offense rather than the individual players surrounding Rodgers.
Rodgers will now have an opportunity to respond on the field as the Steelers look to turn things around. With expectations surrounding the veteran quarterback, every performance will continue to receive attention from fans and analysts. While Mays’ comments focus heavily on Rodgers’ approach, the Steelers will also need improvement from the coaching staff and the rest of the offense.
The team’s struggles cannot necessarily be placed on one player alone, especially when the offensive structure appears to be a major concern. As the season continues, it will be interesting to see whether Rodgers and the Steelers can make adjustments and find a way to become more effective.
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