Aaron Rodgers isn’t just adjusting to a new playbook and a new locker room in Pittsburgh Steelers—he’s adjusting with his gear too. The four-time MVP has been forced to swap out his longtime helmet of choice, and let’s just say the transition hasn’t been smooth.

Rodgers is now wearing the Schutt Air XP Pro Q11 LTD, the only option left to him after the NFL officially banned his preferred model ahead of the 2025 season. And he’s already made his feelings loud and clear. “Hate it. Hate it, hate it,” Rodgers said Wednesday.

The NFL outlawed his previous helmet, also a Schutt model, after it failed to meet safety benchmarks in concussion-simulation testing. Rodgers doesn’t buy it.

“I mean, I wore this one last year, had no concussions, some arbitrary ruling,” he added. “It makes obsolete now. Silly. I should have pushed it more, petitioned to wear it again one more time.”

And he didn’t stop there: “It looks terrible.” The Schutt Air XP Pro Q11 LTD Rodgers wore in New York in 2024 was among seven helmets banned in April after joint testing by the NFL and NFLPA.

The model had already been downgraded to the “not recommended” list before being fully outlawed this spring. Rodgers knew change was coming, even telling reporters in April that he’d try to stay within the Schutt family.

“I don’t know the inner workings of Schutt,” he said, “but if I were to play, I’m going to wear Schutt if they’re still going. If they’ve still got a good helmet that passes some sort of test, that’s what I’m going to wear.”

The issue? None of the league-approved Schutt options have felt right to him so far. Rodgers tested out the Schutt F7 Pro during minicamp but bailed on it quickly.

He moved to the Air XP Pro VTD II—one of the last smooth-shelled designs still legal—but hated that one too, even after modifying it with a custom facemask.

“Looks like a damn spaceship out there. We’ve got to change it,” Rodgers said back in August. “The facemask doesn’t fit the helmet because it’s an old facemask, obviously, because I’m old. But we’re trying to find the right helmet right now.”

Three weeks into the season, the search continues. And while the jokes about Rodgers channeling the Great Gazoo keep flying, the quarterback is still battling real discomfort every time he takes the field.

Aaron Rodgers amidst Steelers’ offensive struggles

Helmet drama aside, Rodgers’ focus has to be on the offense. The Steelers are averaging just 184 passing yards per game, which ranks 24th in the NFL. Add to these a mere 63 rushing yards per game, the second-worst in the league, and that imbalance has left Rodgers carrying more of the load than expected. But the results have been mixed.

His debut against the Jets sparked hope with four touchdowns and no interceptions. But the numbers underneath told a different story. Pro Football Focus gave him just a 56.2 grade for Week 1, slotting him 24th among quarterbacks.

Through three weeks, Rodgers has already been sacked seven times, a reflection of both protection issues up front and his own struggles finding rhythm. Pittsburgh sits at 1–2, and a trip to Dublin against the Vikings looms in Week 4.

The Steelers brought Rodgers in for his experience, decision-making, and ability to elevate weapons like DK Metcalf. Not for him to wage war on headgear. Yes, the NFL has made huge strides in safety equipment.

Guardian Caps, once seen as the future, are already fading into the background as newer helmets take over. The league’s message is clear: performance and protection trump tradition. That leaves Aaron Rodgers with one choice: make peace with the look and let his arm do the talking. Because as much as he might hate the helmet, nobody in Pittsburgh will care if he’s stacking touchdowns and pulling the offense out of its early-season funk.