Former NFL quarterback and current ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky thinks the Pittsburgh Steelers are in a world of trouble if Aaron Rodgers doesn't come to the Steel City.
"No. I think you're staring at 0-6 in the face," Orlovsky said on ESPN's schedule reaction show when asked about the team's chances if Mason Rudolph starts.
On paper, the Steelers' first six games represent a comparatively easier stretch of their 2025 schedule. Their first three games are against teams who had losing records in 2024. The New York Jets and Seattle Seahawks have new quarterbacks, while the New England Patriots ' starter is second-year quarterback Drake Maye . The Minnesota Vikings are also projected to start second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy , who's essentially in his rookie year after missing all of last season with a torn meniscus.
Kenny Pickett or any of the Browns' quarterbacks are not a daunting task in Week 6, either. It's hard to imagine the Steelers going 0-6 to start the season. In fact, that hasn't occurred for the franchise since 1968, the year prior to Chuck Noll's arrival.
Louis Riddck aggress with Orlovsky's assessment, however. He thinks defenses would have their way with Rudolph.
"Aaron Glenn will blitz him into oblivion," Riddick said. "The Seahawks, Mike McDonald, he's a pretty good defensive coordinator. The Patriots with that new defensive line up there. The Vikings with Brian Flores. Man, come on."
Orlovsky doesn't have confidence in Rudolph, but he's also skeptical of the Steelers' wide receivers room. The Steelers are basically in the same spot they were last year at receiver after trading George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys .
"It's an offense with only DK Metcalf on the perimeter," Orlovsky said.
That is a major concern right now, but the Steelers are reportedly high on Calvin Austin III and second-year receiver Roman Wilson . They could also sign a veteran like Keenan Allen or Amari Cooper , or trade for receiver.
"My sense is that they'd like to see the development of their young receivers," NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated wrote. "The Steelers are higher on Calvin Austin III than the general public realizes. He's dynamite with the ball in his hands, and progressed steadily in his first year under OC Arthur Smith. There's also 2024 third-rounder Roman Wilson, whose rookie year was beset by injury."
According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, it's getting down the wire for Rodgers. He has to sign with Pittsburgh, or at least give the Steelers an answer on his plans in the coming weeks.
"I think the Steelers' mandatory minicamp is next month, I forget the dates, but roughly June 10th," Schefter said of Rodgers' looming decision on Unsportsmanlike . "I think we should a decision from Aaron Rodgers shortly before then about whether or not he should play. To me, you can't miss mandatory minicamp when you're starting to gear up. I guess you can, but it's not ideal."
There's no doubt about it, the trajectory of the Steelers' 2025 season relies on Rodgers' looming decision. Things could get ugly with Rudolph as the starter in 2025, but history suggests an 0-6 start is very unlikely.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : Former NFL QB Makes Wild Prediction for Steelers 2025 Season: 'Staring at 0-6'
