The postseason success has eluded Mike Tomlin’s winning regular-season run every year since he joined the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2007. With a restless fandom behind him, he added some veteran ammunition to his squad this year. He brought Aaron Rodgers as QB1 and then signed WR DK Metcalf to a four-year, $132 million deal. Keeping them in proximity, even giving them a shared room in the training camp, Tomlin planned to pair the two. But with the regular season just around the corner, not everyone is sure if Metcalf will be the only target for Rodgers.

In ESPN’s early predictions, senior NFL reporter Dan Graziano claimed, “Don’t be surprised if … they use a lot of tight ends.” He further explained, “Trade acquisition wide receiver DK Metcalf will be Aaron Rodgers’ top target in the passing game, and the Steelers like their running back room with rookie Kaleb Johnson developing behind Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell. But it’s the depth at tight end that could make coordinator Arthur Smith’s offense surprising and unconventional.”

When Arthur Smith entered the Pittsburgh Steelers, he already had a reputation for using multiple TEs. This time around, as well, the scheme is to stress opposing defenses with layers of options, including Pat Freiermuth, Jonnu Smith, Connor Heyward, and Darnell Washington.

By November last season, Pittsburgh was already leading the NFL with the most 13 personnel utilization at 18%, and they leaned on two-tight-end looks nearly 25% of the time. But now two more are added to the room to form one of the deepest groups in the league. Now, that formula gets paired with Rodgers.

Along with Metcalf’s caliber, who, in six seasons with the Seahawks, has never dipped his receiving yards below the 900 mark. In 97 career games, he has averaged 14.4 yards per catch. Clearly, Metcalf has earned every dollar of that four-year, $132 million deal ($60M guaranteed). Even in Pittsburgh, he’s the clear WR1. But the difference is in the load. Rather than leaning on him for targets in a thin receiver room, Pittsburgh can deploy him strategically. The result could be fewer raw numbers than he logged in Seattle, but a far more efficient, winning impact.

So, is Pittsburgh about to waste one of the most physically dominant receivers of this generation, or are they setting up a smoke-and-mirrors attack that forces defenses to pick their poison? Even Metcalf seems to feel the push-and-pull of the moment. On Not Just Football with Cam Heyward, he leaned over to Rodgers and said, “I think we’re gonna do some special things this year. Looking forward to it, and you know, maybe we can run it back.” This year, Pittsburgh is trying to adapt to go on a postseason run.

Mike Tomlin is balancing Aaron Rodgers’ hype with the Steelers’ reality

When the Steelers rolled into St. Vincent College this summer for their training camp, they carried both hope and baggage. A 10-7 record that fooled nobody, a playoff loss to Baltimore that still stings, but now, Tomlin brought in Aaron Rodgers. The air could’ve turned sour quickly with the front office, the fans, and the team second-guessing the gamble.

Instead, Rodgers weaved bonds like a vet who knows how to win a locker room before winning a game. Even in Latrobe, he played video games with his teammates after training. Just recently, he confronted the team for failing to protect QB Skylar Thompson. Even Mike Tomlin, never one to gush, tipped his cap: “Rodgers has a willingness to articulate the game and teach others… tireless communication.” But here’s the rub: anyone expecting Rodgers alone to flip the script better brace for a hard truth.

On The Rich Eisen Show, the host called his son, Cooper Eisen, as the guest. When Cooper asked his father, “Is Aaron Rodgers the reason why the Steelers will go over .500 this year?,” Eisen didn’t sugarcoat it. “It’s just the roster as a whole,” he answered. A simple, cutting reminder that while Rodgers is considered a future Hall of Famer, the team around him is stacked with names like DK Metcalf, Jonnu Smith, and Jalen Ramsey, and young blood like Derrick Harmon.

Rodgers might light the marquee, but Mike Tomlin knows football games are won in depth charts and in rooms that don’t buy into noise. At 41 years of age, Rodgers does not have as much flexibility as he once did. And so, he’s going to rely on his teammates to protect him while he tries to make game-winning plays.

And that’s the story in Pittsburgh right now. The Steelers have the tenth-hardest schedule in the 2025 season. Rodgers could absolutely steady the ship, maybe even deliver a playoff spark, but redefine this franchise? That’s not in his hands. The head coach has built a deep roster, even keeping guys like Skylar Thompson ready to steal a snap if needed. If this is a last dance for Rodgers, it might be the last chance for Mike Tomlin in Pittsburgh.