Things have settled down for the Pittsburgh Steelers in recent weeks. After an offseason full of Aaron Rodgers rumors, the team and future Hall of Fame quarterback finally came to an agreement on a one-year contract for him to be the new starting quarterback for the franchise.
It has been revealed since the signing that Rodgers plans to retire after the 2025 season. That gives him one year to compete for a championship with the Steelers.
No one knows quite what to expect from Rodgers in Pittsburgh. Some believe that he can compete for a championship, while others expect the move to be a bust.
Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images
Also, there are some who don’t think Rodgers is actually truly committed to the Steelers. One of those people is former Cleveland Browns head coach Eric Mangini.
Read more: Steelers’ Will Howard Receives Shocking Prediction From Former GM
During a recent appearance on “First Things First,” Mangini did not hold back his thoughts about the pairing of Rodgers and Pittsburgh. His comments come after Rodgers posted a picture of him working out with his new wide receivers in Malibu.
“I don’t know if it’s me being cynical, but you had a lot of time to make a decision to become a Pittsburgh Steeler,” Mangini said.
“You could’ve come in a little bit earlier, you could’ve gone to a few OTAs. You could’ve gotten a much more thorough understanding of the system so that this becomes that much more impactful. And didn’t he talk about how he’s trying to stay away from the media and keep things private? Then you have this, and you’re the one that posted on Instagram? It just seems a little bit disingenuous.”
Mangini makes some good points. Rodgers waiting as long as he did to sign does put him at a bit of a disadvantage. He passed up quite a bit of time to get to know his teammates, build chemistry with him, and immerse himself in the Steelers’ system.
Read more: Steelers Predicted to Land Dynamic Aaron Rodgers Replacement
However, the flip side of that argument is that Rodgers is one of the most talented quarterbacks of all-time. It won’t take him as much time to get up to speed as it would another signal caller.
It will be interesting to see what the 2025 season ends up looking like for both Pittsburgh and Rodgers. At the very least, the team is going to be entertaining to watch.
There are definite reasons to question Rodgers’ commitment to the Steelers. But, as he has throughout his entire career, there is a very good chance that the 41-year-old quarterback will simply shut down those concerns with his play on the field.
For more Pittsburgh Steelers and NFL news, head over to Newsweek Sports.