As the Pittsburgh Steelers enter the 2026 season, head coach Mike McCarthy’s arrival was intended to revitalize a stagnant offense. However, as NBC Sports analyst Chris Simms pointed out on “Pro Football Talk,” the true bottleneck facing Pittsburgh’s passing game might not be scheme or talent; it may be quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ unwillingness to leave his mechanical "comfort zone." Rodgers' preference for quick releases and short, low-risk throws often prioritized self-preservation over aggressive downfield playmaking. Now entering his 22nd NFL campaign, the 42-year-old signal-caller shows little inclination to change his operational habits. On the show, Simms detailed to his co-host, Mike Florio, why Rodgers' conservative play style frustrates analysts who know he still possesses top-tier arm talent. "That's where I would go, like, man, I wish you'd play and, you know, hang in the pocket a little bit, get used to throwing the ball down the field, you know, get out of your comfort zone,” said Simms. “That's been the kryptonite of Aaron Rodgers, as you've heard me say, for the last three years straight."
Even with offseason additions like receivers DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. expanding the team’s perimeter threats, Simms questioned whether Rodgers will actually push the ball into intermediate and deep windows, or simply default to pre-snap checkdowns: "Can they be any different on offense? Or is it going to be the same crap we've always seen? And it seems like it's the same crap really just with any Aaron Rodgers offense really the last few years. It doesn't matter. Is he going to again just be able to hijack everything and, you know, slant flat slant flat. Oh, I got DK one-on-one. Let me just throw a jump ball to him," added Simms. If Rodgers refuses to extend plays or attack deep coverage, Pittsburgh’s offensive ceiling will remain severely capped, regardless of who holds the play-calling sheet. This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Can Steelers HC Mike McCarthy break Aaron Rodgers out of his comfort zone?