Steelers' Art Rooney II Faces Fan Backlash Over Powerful Control Mike Tomlin Holds Over Him

The Pittsburgh Steelers' 2025 season continues to inch closer, but their quarterback situation remains anything but settled. With Mason Rudolph and rookie Will Howard viewed as unreliable options by many fans, concern is growing about whether the team has a true plan under center. The Steelers have been linked to Aaron Rodgers throughout the offseason, as the future Hall of Famer continues to try and decide whether he wants to retire or make one final run with a new team.

Rodgers has yet to make a decision, leaving the Steelers stuck in a holding pattern as they prepare for the season. If he chooses to retire or go elsewhere, the Steelers will be forced to rely on a quarterback room that many believe is not ready to lead a playoff-caliber team. With time running out, fans and analysts alike are starting to look beyond the field and toward the people responsible for the team's current position.

On Thursday, Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo appeared on 93.7 The Fan and was asked a pointed question. If Rodgers doesn't end up in Pittsburgh, who deserves more blame, Art Rooney II or Mike Tomlin? Fittipaldo gave a clear answer and said Tomlin would deserve the bulk of the blame. He pointed to Tomlin's influence over football decisions and emphasized that the current quarterback situation is largely the result of choices made by the head coach.

"I think Mike Tomlin because I think Art Rooney and that front office are deferring to him," Fittipaldo said. 

Fittipaldo is willing to place most of the blame on Tomlin because, in the minds of many—including Fittipaldo himself, who is closely connected to the Steelers’ offseason decisions—it has been Tomlin who has taken the lead in how the quarterback situation has been handled. It seems clear that the Steelers have built their entire offseason strategy around the expectation that Rodgers would become their quarterback. That is how it has appeared and how it has felt.

In 2024, the Steelers had Russell Wilson and Justin Fields at quarterback. Both showed strong moments, and Fields was somewhat of a question mark. When Wilson was injured, Fields started the first six games and led the Steelers to a respectable 4-2 record. However, there were obvious limitations with the offense during that stretch.

The team’s performance last season increased the urgency to find stability at quarterback. While Fields showed flashes of promise, it was not enough to convince the front office or coaching staff that he was the long-term solution. That is why the pursuit of Rodgers has become so important. If that plan does not come together, many expect the responsibility will fall on the person who directed it.

When Wilson first took over, it seemed like the offense had finally come to life. However, that optimism quickly faded as the season unraveled down the stretch. Afterward, the Steelers made it clear they did not see a future in 2025 with either Fields or Wilson. Now, both quarterbacks are playing in new cities—Fields with the New York Jets and Wilson with the New York Giants.

Steelers Left Waiting On Aaron Rodgers

The Steelers’ decision to move on from both players was very telling. Despite Rodgers being 41 years old and having led the Jets to just five wins in 2024, Pittsburgh is viewing him as a much better option. Reportedly, Tomlin has been leading this effort, so it’s fair to place the responsibility on him depending on how the situation with Rodgers ultimately unfolds.

At this point, the Steelers find themselves at a critical crossroads. The quarterback position has long been a challenge for the franchise, and this offseason represents yet another gamble on experience over youth. Whether Rodgers can revive the team’s fortunes or if he even plays for the Steelers at all, the coming weeks will define the direction of the franchise for years to come. Fans are left hoping that the decisions made now will finally lead to a season of success under center.