The Fallout Begins: Winners and Losers of the Aaron Rodgers-Steelers Deal
There’s always that one move every offseason that makes the whole NFL world pause. In 2025, it wasn’t a blockbuster draft-day trade or a flashy rookie reveal—it was a 41-year-old quarterback, flying into Pittsburgh to sign a deal that had supposedly been in place for months. Aaron Rodgers, the one-time Jet, is now officially a Steeler. And whether you’re still wrapping your head around that or already picturing him in black and gold, there’s no denying it shifts the dynamics for a lot of people..
Winner: Mike Tomlin Finally Gets His Quarterback
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Mike Tomlin’s had to duct tape together quarterback rooms since Ben Roethlisberger called it a career. A carousel of hopefuls—Trubisky, Pickett, Rudolph, even Wilson—never fully settled the position. Rodgers might be older, but he’s not just a stopgap. For Tomlin, this is finally a shot at stability under center that isn’t tied to training camp roulette or last-minute signings.
Loser: Kirk Cousins and Atlanta’s Accounting Department
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Cousins wanted a starting gig, not a clipboard and a paycheck that says “QB2.” But Pittsburgh was the last real option, and Rodgers just slammed that door shut. Now Atlanta’s holding a $27.5 million backup, and no one’s biting. Unless a starter goes down elsewhere, both Cousins and the Falcons are stuck in a bloated, awkward marriage of convenience.
Winner: Pat Freiermuth’s Contract Hopes Just Got a Lifeline
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Freiermuth’s numbers last year weren’t terrible, but they weren’t earning him job security either. With just $11.6 million guaranteed on a four-year deal, the Steelers could have dumped him and saved cap space. Rodgers changes that. A QB who actually uses his tight ends gives Freiermuth a shot at padding stats and justifying his next payday—or at least sticking around.
Loser: Mason Rudolph, the Ultimate Insurance Policy with No Policy
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Rudolph was supposed to be the emergency option. The one guy the team could count on in case “Rodgers Watch” went south. But now, barring injury, he’s back to the sideline. The tape from late 2023 gave him leverage—briefly. Instead of turning that into a starting job or a raise next year, he’s got a front-row seat and a silenced audition reel.
Winner: Arthur Smith and the “Please Don’t Fire Me” Offense
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Smith didn’t land in Pittsburgh to repeat the disaster he left behind in Atlanta. And after the Steelers’ offense ranked 23rd last season, there wasn’t much room for error. Rodgers gives him just enough cushion to survive. He doesn’t need MVP Rodgers—just the version who can hit Freiermuth and Metcalf on time and keep the offense looking semi-functional. That might be enough to keep his job.
Loser: Everyone Else in the AFC North Who Thought They Had Breathing Room
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Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, and whoever the Browns trot out at QB just lost a bit of cushion. Rodgers might not be what he was five years ago, but in a Mike Tomlin-coached system that thrives on being annoyingly competent? He doesn’t have to be. All he has to do is be better than Wilson was, which—let’s be honest—isn’t a high bar to clear.