Steelers legend Jerome Bettis weighs in on Aaron Rodgers, NFL Draft

The Pittsburgh Steelers brought in Aaron Rodgers to salvage several years of mediocre quarterback play, taking a gamble on the then 41-year-old.

But there was almost no trouble as the Steelers made the playoffs once again as Mike Tomlin finished above .500 again.

But Rodgers, like last year, is playing the waiting game and remains a free agent.

CLICK HERE TO GET MORE SPORTS NEWS ON FOXNEWS.COM

Rodgers returning to Pittsburgh for his 22nd NFL season seems like a big possibility, and one Steelers legend believes the team doesn’t really have many other answers.

“If you have no alternative, you have no choice,” Jerome Bettis told Fox News Digital. And I think there are some players that have a little more freedom than others, and Aaron Rodgers is one of them, especially when you’re limited in terms of depth and experience from a quarterback perspective, right?”

But Bettis actually thinks Rodgers’ wait-and-see policy is a positive.

“There’s an opportunity for our number two player to get a lot of reps, there’s a lot of opportunity, right? So there’s some positives to that because you give the young guys the opportunity to run the offense and learn the offense as they go along.”

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin walks off the field with Pittsburgh Steelers’ Aaron Rodgers (8) after beating the Detroit Lions 29-24 at Ford Field. The game was played on December 21, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan. (Nic Antaya/Getty Images)

HEIRE-IN-CHIEF GRACIE HUNT announces engagement to former team quarterback’s son: ‘IT’S ALWAYS BEEN YOU’

Bettis “of course” understands that players may be upset about waiting for the quarterback and wants some “continuity” in the locker room.

“What’s going on? What are we doing? But now you’ve been through it, you appreciate it, you know Aaron is a team player, right? He understands the culture. So it’s not that big of a concern anymore,” Bettis continued.

Bettis said the Steelers have, for the most part, had pretty consistent quarterback play for two decades, but that has taken its toll elsewhere. With plenty of holes to fill, Bettis sits down with The Athletic and his NFL Draft guide “The Beast” to meet with Steelers fans in Pittsburgh to discuss what they want in the NFL Draft, which takes place in Pittsburgh this month.

“They can look at players that they didn’t know about, that maybe were talked about, that they didn’t have a real understanding of. Now they’re getting really detailed information on some of the younger players that they’re going to be rooting for for the next 10, 15 years,” Bettis said. “You probably can’t know too much about these guys, and that’s why The Beast is going to be so helpful for the fans, so they can stay up to date on who that young, young guy that got drafted is. …

Running back Jerome Bettis, No. 36 of the Pittsburgh Steelers, runs with the football against the Denver Broncos during the 1997 season AFC Championship game at Three Rivers Stadium on January 11, 1998 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Broncos defeated the Steelers 24-21. (George Gojkovich/Getty Images)

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD FOX NEWS APPLICATION

“They let other pieces break down; the running game struggled, the receivers struggled. So they have to do a lot to help the quarterback,” Bettis said, adding that defensive help is also needed. “And I mean, get the receivers, help the offensive line, establish the running back position. They need to do some things before they get to quarterback because the other pieces aren’t good enough right now.”

Follow Fox News Digital Sports streaming on Xand subscribe Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.