Despite the disappointing playoff exit, the Steelers doubled down on Aaron Rodgers for 2026. The franchise also reunited him with former head coach Mike McCarthy, who is expected to guide the team during what could be Rodgers’ final NFL season. Even so, many around the league remain unconvinced that Pittsburgh is ready to take the next step.Christian McCaffrey’s wild pushup workout sends NFL fans into a frenzy as 49ers prepare for 2026In fact, one prominent ESPN analyst believes the Steelers could struggle to match last season’s success.ESPN analyst questions Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers’ outlookSpeaking on First Take, ESPN analyst Kevin Clark expressed concern about the Steelers’ future, pointing to Rodgers’ age and declining production.”I’m worried about the Pittsburgh Steelers. When you look at Aaron Rodgers’ numbers from last season—we’re talking about one of the most talented quarterbacks to ever play the position, and he still has a lot of great qualities—but he threw the ball quicker and shorter than virtually anyone on record in football last year.”Clark dismissed the idea that those numbers were simply the result of Pittsburgh’s offensive system or lack of talent around Rodgers.”I don’t think that was an Arthur Smith stat, the departed offensive coordinator. I don’t think that was a receiver stat, even though he has better receivers this year. I think it was an age stat. I think it was him being unable to move in the pocket the way he used to.”The hard truth behind the numbersClark’s concerns are backed by Rodgers’ production. The 42-year-old finished last season with 3,322 passing yards, 24 touchdowns, and seven interceptions, earning a 71.9 QB Impact Score from PFN, which ranked him 29th among NFL quarterbacks.The biggest issue for Pittsburgh is its lack of explosiveness in the passing game. Rodgers’ diminished mobility has limited his ability to extend plays and attack defenses downfield—once one of the defining strengths of his game.That predictability allows opposing defenses to crowd the line of scrimmage, take away the short passing game, and make life more difficult for running backs Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle.Is Mike McCarthy a downgrade from Mike Tomlin?Clark also questioned the Steelers’ coaching transition following Mike Tomlin’s departure and Mike McCarthy’s arrival.”You add in the fact that Mike Tomlin is leaving, and Mike McCarthy is nowhere close to Mike Tomlin as a coach in my book. If we’re talking about teams…
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2026-07-10 03:58:04
