Aaron Rodgers hasn’t even taken a preseason snap for the Steelers, and he’s bending the system to his will, or rather, the system is bending for him. Be it head coach Mike Tomlin or offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, they are well aware of Rodgers’ strength. For years, Pittsburgh has struggled with attacking the middle in the field.

Earlier this year, Ryland Bickley and Ryan Parish of Behind the Steel Curtain highlighted the same concern, saying it is a ‘fatal flaw’ that opponents will easily benefit from. “Neither Wilson nor Fields has shown that they can consistently attack the middle and intermediary parts of the field,” Parish discussed. He also pointed out this weakness as one of the reasons why, despite Justin Fields and Wilson’s hot start, Pittsburgh fumbled to 6-5.

And even though HC Tomlin has the services of the other two QBs, Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson, no one comes even close to Rodgers when it comes down to attacking the middle. So, it is not surprising that HC Tomlin wants his starting QB to throw to the middle.

Pittsburgh insider Christopher Carter’s recent report says, “That the Steelers are more willing to let Rodgers throw to the middle of the field mostly speaks to the confidence Tomlin and Arthur Smith have in the four-time MVP compared to that of their recent quarterbacks.”

Historically, Tomlin favors a balance of pass and rush game, with more focus on rushing the pigskin. Last year, they were 11th in the league with 2166 rushing yards while recording just 3,607 passing yards. But with A-Rod starting under center now, he is getting more open to passing the ball in the midfield. So, that’s one of the biggest changes in the strategy, because Rodgers still holds the best interception rate (1.4), the top passer rating (102.6), and the most efficient adjusted yards per attempt in NFL history. That’s not hyperbole. That’s math.

We saw this even in the 2024 season of the NY Jets. Even with a poor offense, he managed 368 of 584 passes (63% pass completion) in 3,897 passing yards with 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. But yes, he is not what he used to be.

No one’s saying this is 2011 Rodgers. But even at 41, he’s giving the Steelers something they haven’t had in years. Belief that the QB can dictate. Not just survive. And when someone like Tomlin, notoriously loyal to his system, steady-handed, not one to chase ghosts, starts altering the plan? Yeah, that’s not just trust. That’s Rodgers changing the temperature of the whole room.

Aaron Rodgers side-eyes Mike Tomlin’s plan

The 10x Super Bowl champ, entering what could be his final NFL season, won’t play in the Steelers’ preseason opener. That’s the call from Tomlin, who’s keeping his veterans, Rodgers included, off the field while the bottom of the roster gets sorted. A logical move. Safe, even.

But Rodgers’ response? Let’s just say he didn’t exactly toe the party line. “If (Tomlin) wants me to play, I’ll play. If not, then I won’t,” Rodgers said on 93.7 The Fan. “Preseason football is not necessarily real football, because defenses don’t really do a lot.” Rodgers pointed out what most veterans already know but rarely say out loud.

Preseason reps don’t mimic real game conditions. He played an exhibition game in 2023 before his Jets debut, a blink-and-miss return that ended in disaster. Four snaps, one torn Achilles in the season opener in 2023. That was supposed to be a cautionary tale. Instead, here he is again, because he didn’t sign a one-year deal with Pittsburgh to prove he can complete an 8-yard out route in August. He’s here for one last run, one last shot at relevance, and maybe, just maybe, one last shot at a ring.