The Steelers Finally Find Ben Roethlisberger's Replacement at QB by Signing Aaron Rodgers (and That’s a Good Thing)

By: Ralph Calise, IESR Pittsburgh Insider

Hello sports fans, and welcome back to the IE Sports Radio Blog. It wasn't quite Ben Roethlisberger level, but it was close. Aaron Rodgers walked into the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex early Tuesday morning for the first day of minicamp after signing a team friendly one year deal, to many wide-eyed teammates that grew up watching him and idolizing him. Players use to be in awe of Ben Roethlisberger because of his leadership, veteran presence, and hall of fame type career play with two super bowls wins and a loss in a super bowl to Rodgers.  

Rodgers got a couple of second glances and long looks because of what he has been able to do over his 20-year NFL career. It was the same, but different. Roethlisberger a mainstay at QB, and now Rodgers being asked to be the savior of a once proud playoff winning organization. 

Some players, who were 4 years old at the time when Rodgers was drafted by the packers in 2005, said “he’s a legend”, “it’s cool that he’s here”, “believe me he’s a guy I grew up watching, idolizing“ “now I'm going to be in the same room with him hearing his thoughts and the way he looks at games", he’s a legend in this game”. Those comments came from LB Nick Herbig, WR Calvin Austin, and rookie QB Will Howard. Center Zach Frazier, who snapped to Russell Wilson as a rookie and now to Rodgers, loves the arrival, saying “just could have never dreamed of this situation in not even two full seasons but am up for it for 17 games!” 

The locker room got a much-needed shot of excitement on Tuesday with the arrival of the 4-time MVP. Coach Mike Tomlin immediately made it known there will be no position battle with Mason Rudolph. No pole position, a word Tomlin used to describe Wilson and Justin Fields training camp pecking order a year ago. The steelers were patient, maybe too patient for the liking of some, and got the guy that they wanted to lead this team into 2025. Turns out everything Rodgers said on the Pat McAfee show in April about his delay in making a decision was true. When asked about the delay “I did not want to shortchange the guys and be signed but be elsewhere mentally & physically, I wanted to be all in. I just needed to take care of my business before I signed!”  

Coming right to the complex, a motivational Rodgers addressed the team and pronounced "he’s all in from now on”. Now, he will try to help the steelers win the franchise’s 7th super bowl. Rodgers mentioned that he would love to add another trophy to his trophy case. He took part in a 2-hour practice, then spoke to the media for 13 minutes. That was not too long after working out with new teammates. In all honesty, he didn't say anything earth shattering or noteworthy besides praising Tomlin and getting a little peeved off with a question about him superseding offensive coordinator Arthur Smith's play calls. Rodgers wins with his aura and his chi towards what's in front of him and that came across as clear as day.

Nobody knows if Rodgers can still play at a high level pushing 42 years old. QBs that age don't find the fountain of youth very often. In my opinion, he is the best attempt to replace Roethlisberger since he retired. If the steelers can get a 75 percent MVP type season from him, that could mean a super bowl appearance. The odds are stacked against Rodgers to come to Pittsburgh and be successful but he sure piques everybody’s interest. We are going to find out the results, but I, Ralph Calise, your Pittsburgh insider here on IESR, am willing to bet that it has to be better than what the Steelers started the past three seasons with.

Mitch Trubisky, Kenny Pickett, Justin Fields and Russell Wilson - Rodgers will be better than all of them on the field and hopefully that will be good enough! In closing, Aaron Rodgers is a winner and that’s something that’s been lacking since the day Ben Roethlisberger retired. Roethlisberger's replacement is now Rodgers - let’s go Steelers! Thank you for reading, and we will see you next time on IE Sports Radio; your direct feed for ALL that is sports.