Aaron Rodgers Sends Strong Message as Steelers QB Calls On Mike Tomlin For a Change

They say take it easy, and Aaron Rodgers has taken it to heart. Two weeks in, and the Steelers are already licking wounds from a humiliating loss to the Seahawks. After a promising halftime lead of 14-7, they finished with a 31-17 defeat. The defense, which was supposed to be the team’s backbone, was exposed. Despite adding big-name players like Darius Slay and Jalen Ramsey, the team’s run defense ranked 30th in the league after allowing 117 yards to Seattle and a staggering 182 rushing yards to the Jets in Week 1. That’s a mess. And honestly, you start to wonder what’s going on behind the scenes.

Still, Rodgers sent a strong message about how he is approaching this challenging season.  “I don’t like getting too binary, but winning, that’s a good response. But we can’t get attached to the binary system that our league is judged on necessarily, because it is a 17-game season, and the process has to be great. So, just dig into the details of the process, enjoy it, practice well, and then let game day take care of itself,” Rodgers said. He urged focusing on the details and trusting the process rather than obsessing over just wins and losses.

Yet, the tough truth is clear. Both the offense and defense have glaring issues, to the point where Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin and head coach Mike Tomlin found themselves under fire. T.J. Watt, the defensive star, offered a brutally honest assessment: “We’re way too talented, and we have way too good of schemes, to allow this to continue to happen week after week.” Talent is there, but the execution? Not so much. Rodgers’ message is a call to focus on the grind, not just the scoreboard.

The Steelers’ defense is a paradox this year. It’s talented on paper yet consistently bashed on the ground. Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson showed flashes, with Queen attacking the run early and Wilson snagging sacks. But their impact wasn’t enough to swing the game or cover for systemic flaws. Add in Kenneth Walker’s 19-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter that the Steelers just couldn’t stop. And it’s a sign that the addition of star players alone doesn’t solve deep issues unless team chemistry and coaching adjustments rise to match.

Meanwhile, the offense’s inability to run effectively is another glaring red flag. Allowing an opposing running back to rush for over 100 yards in consecutive games. It’s something Tomlin has never seen in his coaching career. The Steelers rank near the bottom of the league in rushing, and every opponent exposes that weakness. So, now the QB is demanding a change in the Steel City’s O-line.

Aaron Rodgers demands offensive shift for Steelers

On the field, Rodgers called for a change in the Steelers’ offense. Pittsburgh’s ground game struggled, with lead rusher Jaylen Warren gaining just 48 yards at a below-average 3.4 yards per carry. The rest of the backfield combined for a mere 21 yards. That output doesn’t cut it, and Rodgers wants a change. He’s urging offensive coordinator Arthur Smith to involve Warren more in the passing game.

Warren showed potential with 86 receiving yards on four catches against Seattle, including a 65-yard catch-and-run that broke four tackles. Rodgers called it, “one of the best catches and runs l’ve ever been part of.” That play was reminiscent of a legendary Donald Driver run for the Packers in 2009. Warren caught the ball just 7 or 8 yards downfield but then turned on the afterburners, breaking five tackles before being stopped at the 4-yard line.

Rodgers wants to see more of that type of playmaking. With the running game otherwise struggling, his call is clear: get Warren more involved in the passing attack and focus on the long-season process. This mindset may be key as the Steelers look to find consistency despite early setbacks. Coming up next is a clash with the Patriots’ elite run defense, which could make things even uglier unless the Steelers fix their issues fast.