Jul 3, 2026, 1:20 PM CUT

“Making more mistakes”: 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers sent harsh reality check weeks before 2026 season begins

Weeks before the 2026 season begins, Aaron Rodgers received a harsh reality check after NFL analysts Gregg Rosenthal and Jon Ledyard ranked him 31st among the league's top 32 quarterbacks.

Speaking on the NFL Daily podcast, Ledyard argued that Rodgers still flashes elite ability but no longer delivers consistently and has become more prone to mistakes with the football.

“If you’re talking about like, ‘You still have a couple plays in you?’ Yeah, sure, he has that in him,” said Ledyard on the NFL Daily Podcast on 2 July. “But like consistently, sustainably good quarterback play? No. He’s also making more mistakes with the football.”

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Ledyard on YouTube @NFLDailyWithGreggRosenthal continued that Rodgers had several costly turnovers last season and struggled to avoid sacks, describing Pittsburgh's backfield as a "car crash."

“He’s always angry when he gets hit. I’m like, ‘That’s kind of part of playing the position buddy.’ You should retire if you don’t want to do that,” shared the analyst.

Jack Markowski of the Pittsburgh Steelers on SI raised questions about Rodgers being the Steelers' right QB choice. He opined that if the team had moved on from Rodgers after his first year, they wouldn’t have faced uncertainty at QB for the future.

Markowski added that when former head coach Mike Tomlin was succeeded by Mike McCarthy, it was a definitive sign of Rodgers returning to Pittsburgh for his second season. McCarthy was the former head coach of the Green Bay Packers, where the QB spent 18 years.

During the 2025 season, Rodgers registered 3,322 passing yards, 24 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. He even led the Steelers to their divisional win in the AFC North for the first time since 2020.

The concern is with the QB’s consistency and overall ability as he’s now in the final stages of his career.

Ledyard noted that Rodgers might not have had a place in the NFL if the Steelers hadn’t signed him. In May, Rodgers confirmed that the 2026 season will be his final season before retirement.

While Ledyard questioned Rodgers' current level of play, not everyone around the league shares that outlook.

Aaron Rodgers set up for a strong finish, per an NFL analyst

After a 10-7 season and an AFC North title in 2025, NFL analyst Brian Baldinger shared an insight that could make Rodgers’ final season a lot better.

“It all hinges in Pittsburgh on Aaron Rodgers,” said Baldinger in conversation with Jason La Canfora on The Daily Flock podcast on 1 July. “... They have continued to try and bolster the offensive line, not just for him, but to be able to run the ball better than they have. They have a lot of age on defense. It’s a new way of doing things.”

Baldinger concluded by saying that under McCarthy and offensive line coach James Campen, Rodgers will have it easy.

Rodgers enters what he has already said will be the final season of his career, facing sharply different expectations.

While critics question whether he can still perform at a consistently high level, Baldinger believes improvements around the Steelers' offense could give the veteran quarterback a chance.

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Written by

Naomi Grace

Edited by

Rudra Dubey