In a wide-ranging interview with Brice and Bianucci on ESPN The Fan, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reporter Jason Mackey offered sharp and honest insights into several hot-button Pittsburgh sports topics — including the Steelers’ quarterback search, fan frustration with Mike Tomlin, and the fast-rising star of Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes.
Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers: A Natural Fit?
Speculation around Aaron Rodgers potentially joining the Pittsburgh Steelers continues to swirl, and Mackey confirmed there’s real traction behind the rumors.
“Aaron Rodgers is their guy. That’s who they want to have in here,” Mackey said.
While the Steelers aren’t rushing anything, Mackey believes the interest is mutual.
“It’s just they’re trying to treat it with the requisite amount of care. They’re trying to be patient.”
“Aaron Rodgers makes sense for them, and they make sense for Aaron Rodgers, and there really aren’t a ton of other alternatives from the Steelers standpoint.”
Jaylen Warren Poised to Lead Steelers’ Backfield
Mackey also gave a glimpse into how the Steelers’ running game might look in 2025, noting that Salt Lake City’s own Jaylen Warren is likely to be the featured back.
“I think it’s going to be Jaylen Warren’s (backfield) to start. I think he’ll probably get the most carries out of anybody,” Mackey said.
Still, Pittsburgh is expected to rotate several backs.
“I think they’re going to be looking for ways to get Caleb Johnson involved. And they signed Kenneth Gainwell this offseason too, who you know, is not the biggest name around the NFL, but had a really important role in Philadelphia and sort of supporting, third down back type of stuff.”
Mike Tomlin: Respected Nationally, Scrutinized at Home
Though Mike Tomlin remains one of the most respected head coaches in the NFL on a national level, Mackey made it clear that many Steelers fans are growing weary of what they view as stagnation.
“Yeah, they’re tired of him. They really are. They’re fed up.”
He illustrated the intensity of that sentiment with a pointed example.
“If I were to write a column tomorrow talking about how great of a coach Mike Tomlin was, my email inbox would be filled with people telling me what a moron I was for even thinking that,” Mackey said. “That probably sounds crazy in Utah or nationally… But that’s just not the perception of Mike away from Pittsburgh.”
He acknowledged that the fan base has legitimate reasons for its discontent.
“Steelers fans have seen Tomlin just do the same stuff over and over and over again, and every year it’s nine and eight, ten and seven. Yeah, you don’t go under .500. You get your doors blown off in the playoffs — like, kind of what are we doing here?”
“Maybe there’s some entitlement, or they expect more — which is fair. I mean, it should be a winning organization, and they shouldn’t tolerate this stuff.”
Hear the full interview with Jason Mackey below:
