Ryan Clark critical of Steelers signing Aaron Rodgers: 'This makes absolutely no sense' for long-term future

Aaron Rodgers will be the starting for quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2025. Rodgers and the Steelers agreed to terms on a one-year contract on Thursday, bringing an end to Pittsburgh’s offseason pursuit of the 41-year-old quarterback.

In the short-term, former Steelers safety and current ESPN analyst Ryan Clark believes it was the right move for Pittsburgh to make. Clark, speaking on Friday’s “Get Up” cited Rodgers being an immediate upgrade over Mason Rudolph.

“It is best-case scenario for the 2025 Pittsburgh Steelers,” Clark said. “Now, your quarterback room is much better, much more improved from Mason Rudolph to Aaron Rodgers. You’re going to look at games toward the end of last season against the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Miami Dolphins and say, OK, he can still spin the football with some of the best of them. We watched him get healthier throughout the season.”

There is a but in there, however. While Clark admits Rodgers should make the team better, he’s unconvinced this will put the Steelers over the top.

Pittsburgh’s last playoff win came in 2016, and they are coming off an AFC Wild Card Round defeat to the Baltimore Ravens. Clark went as far to say the move “makes absolutely no sense” as it pertains to the Steelers’ long-term future.

Ryan Clark questions why Steelers signed Aaron Rodgers

“What does that mean for this team? You remember how irresponsibly giddy we were when Aaron Rodgers became a New York Jet? There were people like Mike Greenberg who thought the New York Jets were going to get this elevation that we saw Tom Brady bring to Tampa Bay. They ain’t the same dude,” Clark said. “Aaron Rodgers is a guy, who to me, is the best quarterback I ever played against. Still, he’s only been to one Championship. So, what does this make the Pittsburgh Steelers?

“This makes the Pittsburgh Steelers the same team they have been the last decade. A team that’s good enough to compete, good enough to make the playoffs, but they can’t win a playoff game. That’s exactly who this team is. Let’s go fight for third in the AFC North. I believe Aaron Rodgers will play fine; I believe Aaron Rodgers will acclimate fine. That doesn’t mean this team becomes the team that is setting the standard that Mike Tomlin when he took over was going to continue, and through the first 10 years of his career, did continue.

“I think it’s fine, best-case scenario for this team, but if you don’t have a two-year plan that says Aaron Rodgers starts this year because Mike Tomlin is allergic to losing and we are going to sell the farm, give up all the picks to get a quarterback next year, this makes absolutely no sense when we’re talking about your long-term future.”

Ryan Clark: ‘You get Aaron Rodgers so you cannot stink’

Rodgers waited a while to decide if he wanted to continue his NFL career after his release from the New York Jets. He ultimately returns for a 21st season. Rodgers spent two years with the Jets after coming over from the Green Bay Packers, though his first season in New York ended on his first drive due to an Achilles injury. He threw for 3,897 yards, 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 2024, marking two straight full seasons with at least 10 picks.

Clearly, the Steelers believe Rodgers has some more high-level play left in him. The Jets thought the same thing. Green Bay saw the decline in 2022 and promptly moved on. Which version will the Steelers get? Clark has an idea.

“I’m not here to bash Aaron Rodgers. I believe he is an upgrade to Mason Rudolph. I even believe Aaron Rodgers is a slight upgrade to Russell Wilson last year. Aaron Rodgers is no longer elite,” Clark said. “Aaron Rodgers doesn’t walk into the building with the cache that says to the rest of the organization that this is our guy that is going to allow us to win a Championship. Cam Heyward, TJ Watt, Minkah Fitzpatrick — all of these players that are on their way to Gold Jackets, along with Aaron Rodgers, don’t get to feel like because he’s here, we’re going to win it all.

“The Jets shouldn’t have felt like that. Actually, after 2011, the Green Bay Packers shouldn’t have felt like that because they never went to another one and he was the best quarterback in the world. This is what the Steelers have to do to compete this year. I understand that, it’s the right call, Aaron Rodgers is an upgrade. We saw late last year he can still play, but he can’t play like that [elite]. So, if your thought was we’re going to get Aaron Rodgers and now compete with Buffalo, Kansas City and the Baltimore Ravens, you’re out of your mind. You get Aaron Rodgers so you cannot stink. That’s it.”