After being let go by the Jets after a disappointing 2024 campaign, many wondered if Aaron Rodgers would remain in the NFL after a storied career. At the age of 41 and two years removed from that debilitating injury that saw him ruled out for the entirety of 2023, no one would have blamed A-Rod had he chosen to hang up his boots. However, the former Green Bay Packer has opted to sign on for one more year, moving to the Pittsburgh Steelers in a deal that throws up more questions than answers.
During his time in the Big Apple, things never quite worked out for the four-time MVP winner. His maiden campaign ended inside just seven minutes when he was rocked by a devastating Achilles tear just a handful of snaps into his debut campaign at MetLife Stadium. When he did return, he was unable to muster up that magic of old.
Disappointing 2024 Season
When he did return at the start of last season, expectations were high for both Rodgers and the Jets. The iconic quarterback was seen as the final piece of the puzzle that would catapult the Green Machine back into contention, Unfortunately, things didn’t quite work out that way.
The Jets stumbled out of the blocks, losing six of their opening eight games to all but end their postseason hopes by the midway point. They did manage to win two of their final four games to improve to 5-12, but that record was a million miles away from what the MetLife faithful expected when A-Rod initially signed on.
Now, Rodgers arrives in Pittsburgh, a franchise desperate to steady its quarterback carousel. Last year, both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields moved to Pennsylvania, and they combined to relative success as they led the Steelers to a playoff berth. However, both have since departed, and A-Rod joins rookie sixth-rounder Will Howard in the Black and Yellow quarterback corps.
Despite his advancing age at 41, the Steelers are hoping that Rodgers can recapture some of the magic that made him a Super Bowl champion and catapult them back into contention in the AFC. With DK Metcalf providing a legitimate downfield target and head coach Mike Tomlin crafting an identity around veteran experience, Rodgers’ union with the Steelers is brimming with potential.
Online sports betting sites remain unconvinced, though. The latest odds from Bovada’s sports betting site still make the Steelers a +500 outsider to win their division next season, some way behind the much-fancied Baltimore Ravens (-145) and the Cincinnati Bengals (+225). However, if Rodgers can follow in the footsteps of these two veterans who shone after late career moves, those odds will surely shorten.
Tom Brady
When Tom Brady announced in 2020 that he was leaving the New England Patriots after two decades of dominance, many wondered if the 43-year-old quarterback would sail off into the sunset. He was already regarded as the greatest QB to have ever played the game, having won a whopping six Super Bowl titles – three of which had come in the five years before he departed from Gillette Stadium. As such, he had nothing left to prove.
But despite that and his advancing years, TB12 decided to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for one final stint in the NFL. And what a decision it turned out to be.
Brady wasted no time making his presence felt in Tampa, throwing for a mighty 4,633 yards and 40 touchdowns during his debut campaign. Unsatisfied with that, the three-time MVP led the Bucs to Super Bowl glory, defeating the newest hot star, Patrick Mahomes, and the Kansas City Chiefs in the process. The triumph was Tampa Bay’s first in almost two decades, and Brady’s seventh ring proved once and for all that he would forever be remembered as the GOAT.
Peyton Manning
After spending 14 seasons with the Indianapolis Colts and amassing a Hall of Fame résumé, Peyton Manning faced an uncertain future following four neck surgeries that sidelined him for the 2011 season. Released by the Colts in early 2012, the veteran decided to join the Denver Broncos, sparking questions as to whether he could return to his former greatness. What unfolded was a masterclass.
Manning’s tenure in Denver was nothing short of extraordinary. From 2012 to 2015, he led the Broncos to four consecutive AFC West titles, throwing for 17,112 yards and 140 touchdowns over that span.
His 2013 campaign was particularly jaw-dropping as he rewrote the history books, throwing for 5,477 yards and 55 touchdowns, both single-season records. That year, he led his new side to the Super Bowl and was heavily favored to secure the Lombardi, only for the Seattle Seahawks to torpedo Denver’s hopes with a relentless 43-8 demolition.
Two years later, Manning and the Broncos were back. And this time around, they weren’t to be denied. While the veteran QB had an uncharacteristically disappointing day, Denver still managed to get the victory, with their defense neutralizing Cam Newton to secure a 24-10 victory against the Carolina Panthers.
Will Rodgers be able to muster up the same magic in Pittsburgh in 2025? Only time will tell.
