All eyes will be on Aaron Rodgers as the four-time MVP aims to prove that age is just a number.
But it is Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin who may have the most to lose.
The NFL‘s longest-tenured boss since Bill Belichick left the New England Patriots, Tomlin has a record streak of 18 seasons without posting a losing record since taking over in 2008.
But after Russell Wilson fell apart in the wild-card round despite an impressive start to life in black and gold, the Steelers have put all their eggs in another ageing basket for 2025 after Rodgers finally made up his mind.
Pittsburgh has not won a postseason game since the 2016 campaign and Tomlin claimed in January that “it’s not like I’ve been doing the same things over [and over].”
But Chase Daniel, who won a Super Bowl as Drew Brees’ backup in 2010, thinks the Rodgers signing suggests he has run out of ideas.
“That’s completely false, because you have been doing the same thing over and over,” he told The Facility.
“The Steelers have been in this situation before — an aging quarterback, trying to resurrect his career, that needs to be propped up by the NFL’s most expensive defense.
“They tried to muddle last season with 36-year-old Russell Wilson — what did it get them? A first-round exit — not a playoff win. Russell Wilson went 6-5.
“They did it with Big Ben [Roethlisberger] in his late 30s for a few years — Ben was 9-7 his last season. It didn’t work.
“They’re trying to do it again with Aaron Rodgers this year — in what possibly could be Aaron Rodgers’ last season as a pro.
“[The Steelers are] doing exactly what Mike Tomlin said he wasn’t doing, and the definition of that in the dictionary — if I’m not wrong, [Emmanuel] Acho — is insanity.”
Rodgers has signed a one-year deal in Pittsburgh and turns 42 during the season.
Ryan Clark, who won Super Bowl XLIII with Tomlin and retired as a Steeler, also slammed the decision to bring in a QB well past his prime.
“This is the worst case scenario for Pittsburgh Steelers fans,” Clark said on SportsCenter.
“[Rodgers] continues to keep you mired in mediocrity. Will they contend for that championship that Pittsburgh Steelers people and fans and the organization think is the standard? No, they won’t.
“They’ll be fighting for a wild-card spot, they’ll probably be home Week 1 of the playoffs and again be looking for a franchise quarterback.
“If you told me you were going to pair one of this era’s greatest coaches with one of this era’s greatest quarterbacks, I’d expect greatness. That is not what we’ll get. Maybe six years ago, but not now.”
NFL’s Greatest……
Ranking the top 10……
Quarterbacks of all-time – Can anyone better Tom Brady?
Wide receivers of all-time – Does Randy Moss or Jerry Rice come out on top?
Running backs of all-time – Stacking Jim Brown, Barry Sanders, Walter Payton, Emmitt Smith and more
Tight ends of all-time – How does Travis Kelce compare?
Rodgers was brought in to end the New York Jets’ playoff drought and failed miserably.
A torn Achilles derailed his first season and going 5-12 in 2024 didn’t inspire much confidence.
Tomlin will hope that Rodgers, who did improve down the stretch, was hampered by the injury and can return to something like the Hall of Fame form he displayed as a Green Bay Packer.
If not, he could find himself in the unusual position of looking over his shoulder, wondering if his job — previously one of the safest in sports — is secure.
