On Friday night, the Pittsburgh Steelers offered Aaron Rodgers the opportunity to fix his legacy in what should be his final season in the NFL.
Rodgers will go down as one of the greatest players to ever strap on a helmet and take to the field in an NFL game. Over his 21 legendary seasons, he went to the Pro Bowl 10 times, earned All-Pro honors on four occasions, and was a four-time NFL MVP. And in 2011, he reached the mountaintop when he led the Green Bay Packers to their last Super Bowl.
His reputation as a football player is untouchable. However, it's the off-the-field stuff that has made him a divisive figure among many fans. Be it his almost yearly retirement threats late in his run with the Packers. Getting Mike McCarthy pushed out as head coach. His views about the world, or his interest in psychedelics.
There was also his disastrous run with the New York Jets and taking months to put pen to paper on a contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers last year. Yet another standout was how he handled the Packers' preparation for life after him when they drafted Jordan Love in Round 1 of the 2020 NFL Draft .
While he wasn't outwardly miserable about it, he didn't embrace the future despite getting similar treatment from Brett Favre 15 years before. It was one of many instances during his career where he seemed to be in his feelings and me-first, instead of team-first.
Well, he has a chance to change a lot of opinions about him if he returns to the Steelers this season. On Friday night, Pittsburgh moved in the direction of the future when they made Penn State quarterback Drew Allar the 76th selection in this year's draft.
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Allar had first-round hype heading into the 2025 college football season. But a bad start from the Nittany Lions and a serious ankle injury ended his year after a few weeks. He has good size for the position and a big arm that can make all the throws in the NFL. But he needs a lot of work and is a total project. So he is no threat to Rodgers starting in 2026.
It's why the NFL legend should embrace mentoring Allar, since NFL.com's scouting reports claim improving his "confidence, poise, and recognition must be the foundation of any rebound."
Barring a stunning run to the Super Bowl, this is definitely the 42-year-old's swan song. His place in Canton is set. However, changing his narrative a bit by playing a key role in developing his replacement and a potential long-term starter would be the perfect close to an iconic career. It would prove once and for all that he is the better player and man than Brett Favre.
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