Despite Aaron Rodgers' vow, the Steelers face offseason hurdles in June 2025. Can Rodgers, Watt, and Heyward overcome contract disputes and a thin roster?
StatPro NFL Beat Reporter
The dust has barely settled on mandatory minicamp, but the narrative for the 2025 Pittsburgh Steelers is already crystal clear: it's a season of immense hope shadowed by significant hurdles. The arrival of future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers was meant to be the final piece of the puzzle, a definitive push to end an agonizing playoff win drought. Yet, as the team heads into the summer break, a contract dispute with a defensive cornerstone and a suddenly thin tight end room are raising serious questions about whether hope alone will be enough.
Joining the Steelers was 'best for my soul.' - Aaron Rodgers
Aaron Rodgers has said all the right things since landing in the Steel City. His declaration that the move was 'best for my soul' has become a rallying cry for a fanbase starved for postseason success. He reported to minicamp, quieting some initial chatter about his commitment. However, the national media isn't entirely sold. ESPN's Dan Graziano pointed to a questionable offensive line and a lack of proven receiving depth as reasons the 41-year-old QB might not be the savior many hope for. Local beat writer Brian Batko went further, openly questioning if Rodgers might 'mail it in.' The pressure is squarely on Rodgers and Coach Mike Tomlin to prove the doubters wrong and finally deliver for a veteran core that includes Cam Heyward, T.J. Watt, and Minkah Fitzpatrick.
Perhaps the most glaring issue facing the Steelers is the absence of their best player. Star pass-rusher T.J. Watt stayed away from mandatory minicamp as contract extension talks have reportedly stalled. With no deal appearing close, a cloud of uncertainty now hangs over the defense. For a team that finished 10-7 last season largely on the back of its defensive playmakers, the idea of entering training camp with Watt's long-term future in question is a terrifying prospect. The Steelers' Super Bowl aspirations could hinge on getting this deal done.
The roster challenges don't stop with contract disputes. The tight end room, once a position of potential strength, took a massive hit before training camp even began. Free-agent signee Donald Parham Jr. is lost for the entire 2025-26 season with a torn Achilles, and promising undrafted rookie JJ Galbreath also went down with an undisclosed injury in minicamp. This thrusts a heavy burden onto Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington, and will likely force players like Connor Heyward and hybrid fullback DJ Thomas Jones into more significant roles. It's an early test of the team's depth at a critical offensive position.
This 'reload' season is all about capitalizing on the current window and ending the franchise's playoff win drought, which stretches back to 2016. After a 10-7 finish and second place in a brutal AFC North last year, the stakes couldn't be higher. With looming roster cuts for three unnamed players post-minicamp, General Manager Omar Khan is making it clear that only those who can contribute to a championship run will stick around. The pressure is on every single player, from the future Hall of Fame quarterback to the last man on the roster.
As the Steelers break for the final quiet weeks of the offseason, the storylines are set for a dramatic training camp. All eyes will be on Latrobe to see if T.J. Watt arrives with a new contract, if Aaron Rodgers can build chemistry with a beleaguered offense, and how the team patches its sudden roster holes. The goal is clear: end the playoff win drought. But the path to get there just got a lot more complicated.
