Ex-GM predicts the 2025 season is do-or-die for Steelers' Aaron Rodgers & Mike Tomlin. With Rodgers struggling in camp, is a franchise shakeup imminent?
StatPro NFL Beat Reporter
The pads are on in Latrobe, but the real heat on the 2025 Pittsburgh Steelers is coming from off the field. Former Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum dropped a bombshell on Thursday, declaring this season a pivotal, potentially final, chapter for both quarterback Aaron Rodgers and head coach Mike Tomlin if a deep playoff run doesn't materialize.
Tannenbaum suggested that if the Rodgers experiment fails, both the quarterback and the head coach could be out by season's end.
Tannenbaum didn't mince words, questioning if a 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers, coming off injury-plagued years, can still lead a team to glory. Reports from camp that Rodgers is lagging behind Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson only add fuel to the fire. Tannenbaum speculated that if Rodgers falters, the team might not hesitate to turn to rookie Will Howard, signaling a full-scale rebuild. For a coach of Mike Tomlin's stature, anything less than a significant postseason appearance could trigger a franchise-altering transition that has felt unthinkable for nearly two decades.
The pressure isn't just internal. The AFC North continues to be a gauntlet, and the Cincinnati Bengals just made it tougher. On Thursday, they signed tight end Noah Fant, giving Joe Burrow yet another weapon alongside Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. This move sends a clear message across the division and puts the Steelers' defense, now featuring a revamped secondary, on high alert. Every divisional game is now even more critical, raising the stakes for Tomlin's squad to prove they can hang with the conference's elite.
Despite the ominous predictions and looming thunderstorms that forced practice to an earlier 10 AM start, the work continues on the field. The big on-field story of the day was a glimpse of what the new-look secondary can do. In a much-hyped 1-on-1 drill, newly acquired DB Jalen Ramsey blanketed tight end Pat Freiermuth, winning the rep decisively. It's a small moment, but for a defense that needs to be elite to support a potentially volatile offense, seeing Ramsey immediately make an impact is a massive silver lining. These are the victories the team needs to stack as they prepare for the season.
As the team looks ahead to the annual Friday Night Lights practice, the narrative for 2025 is crystal clear. With external expectations at a fever pitch and rivals loading up, every single day in Latrobe matters. The legacy of a Hall of Fame quarterback and a legendary coach may very well hang in the balance. The season hasn't even started, but for the Steelers, it already feels like the fourth quarter.
