Aaron Rodgers has been ranked 22nd among projected starting quarterbacks by PFF, a striking placement for a four-time MVP.
What happened?
The ranking comes after Rodgers threw 24 touchdown passes against only seven interceptions in a 10-7 season, but struggled in the wild-card round against the Houston Texans.
He finished 17-of-33 for 146 yards with an interception, giving critics an easy snapshot for the argument that his game is fading.
Why it matters for Aaron Rodgers
PFF’s Dalton Wasserman and Max Chadwick wrote that “Father Time has caught up with the 42-year-old — he earned just a 68.0 PFF overall grade last year, the worst mark of his career.”
His 38.1 PFF passing grade under pressure ranked sixth-worst among qualifying quarterbacks.
What comes next?
The Steelers believe protection can change the story, with the arrival of offensive line coach James Campen and the addition of more help around Rodgers, including Michael Pittman and Germie Bernard.
The team hopes a deeper receiving group can stretch defenses and give Rodgers better answers when opponents bring pressure.
The Rodgers-McCarthy reunion is one of the biggest storylines of Steelers camp, with expectations high for the veteran quarterback.
McCarthy said, “When we get to Latrobe, we want to play football.”
The Steelers will argue there's more context to Rodgers' ranking, with the offensive line repeatedly putting him under pressure last season.
Rodgers was simply not choosing checkdowns out of habit, but was forced to survive behind a pocket that did not hold long enough.
The presence of Campen gives Rodgers a familiar foundation as the Steelers try to build a cleaner, more reliable passing structure.
On July 5, 2026, the Steelers are preparing for training camp, with Rodgers looking to recapture the magic one final time.