Jul 30, 2025 3 min read

Can you believe we’re talking about football again already?

The Steelers just started training camp in Latrobe right on cue in the peak of summer 90-plus-degree temperatures and steamy humidity. It seems like it was just yesterday that we were bundled up in our Steelers hoodies and toboggans, waving our Terrible Towels and trying to figure out whether Russell Wilson or Justin Fields would be taking snaps under center.

Fast forward less than a year, and guess who’s back? Everyone’s favorite quarterback who some love to hate: Mason Rudolph.

We’ve had more than our fair share of quarterback drama in Pittsburgh for the past few years. Remember speculating how long Big Ben would stick around and who would be his heir apparent?

Then there was the drama around Kenny Pickett’s dismal performance as a starter and his unceremonious exit when word came that he would have competition for the QB1 spot the following year. On to Russell Wilson vs. Justin Fields and what wound up being a stinker of a season yet again and I’m ready for another change.

But Aaron Rodgers? Aaron Rodgers really is a Steeler now? You could have bet me a million dollars five years ago that he would never end up in a Steelers uniform. My, how things change!

The drama of how the Rodgers deal came to be and the lateness of the official announcement that he was signing with the team only adds to the craziness of it all. One of my longtime TV colleagues who works in sports told me once, “That’s why I love sports – you can’t make this stuff up!” I have to agree with him: There’s more drama in the sports world every day than there is on “General Hospital.”

So, here we are. How will the Rodgers Steelers era play out? One Cinderella season? A tragic downfall? I can’t wait to find out.

I’m wondering if the coaching staff will let him do his thing as a wily veteran and experienced leader. There were rumblings that they reined in Wilson’s penchant for audibles at the line of scrimmage which didn’t sit so well with him. If they pull the same thing with Rodgers, how will that fly? I’m stocking up on popcorn to sit and watch the shenanigans and drama as this all plays out.

One of my favorite sayings is, “This is going to be really big or really bad!” I can’t think of any other saying that may be more apropos to this upcoming Steelers season than that.

I’m not making any prognostications as to how many games they’ll win or lose because I have no idea what to expect. In any event, it should be great fun to watch, and I’m hoping Rodgers returns to form as the gunslinger of a quarterback we used to know and love, even if it’s only for one more season.

Kristin Emery can be reached at kristinemery1@yahoo.com.