For a team that once beat opponents into submission with a fullback and a hangover of broken tackles, the Steelers are now working with something shinier. After retooling their offense this offseason with a flurry of big names and even bigger expectations, it seems the Steelers may have built an offense that confuses more than it excites. Bringing in Aaron Rodgers and DK Metcalf might look great on a Madden roster. But Rodgers, who landed in Pittsburgh for what he claims is his final NFL season, armed with a $13.6 million contract and a very specific idea of how he likes to play football: his way.

The problem? That ‘way’ may already be at odds with what the Steelers have planned. And for Jerome Bettis – the guy who was Pittsburgh’s ground identity – this feels like a hard left from who the Steelers are supposed to be.

Appearing on The Dan Patrick Show, Bettis didn’t mince words. Dan Patrick kicked things off: “The Steelers let Najee Harris go, and it always feels like that offense is predicated on having a good running back there.” Bettis almost agreed but then added a bite. “Yeah, they went away from Najee. I was a big fan.” And when asked if the Steelers were finally going to air it out with Rodgers?

“No. No,” Bettis said quickly. “They’re going to run the football. They drafted young kid uh from Iowa who’s really really good running back.” But he dropped his biggest concern with surgical precision: Even if you bring in Rodgers and Metcalf, still, to score a TD, you have to run the football. “If you ask Aaron Rodgers to throw the ball 40 times, that’s a mistake.” Translation? Pittsburgh can’t treat Rodgers like a 27-year-old gunslinger and expect to survive.

Bettis didn’t just bring fire – he brought logic. He argued the team’s identity has always hinged on the run game, and even with Rodgers and Metcalf in the mix, they’d be foolish to abandon that. Bettis made it clear: Rodgers doesn’t want the volume. He wants control, efficiency, and a run game that takes the pressure off him. “I just think they have got to run the football because what you don’t want to do is have him running around in the pocket at 40 [41] years old and taking those hits. You want them to play action,” Bettis said.

And that’s where things get messy. Enter offensive coordinator Arthur Smith – best known for ground-heavy, tight-end reliant, and allergic to wide-open passing. His teams have consistently ranked among the top in run rate, tight end usage, and pre-snap motion. Rodgers? Not a fan of any of that.

Historically, Rodgers thrives in a pass-first, motion-light, single-tight-end offense. Like Bettis said, “He’s moving. He’s getting the ball out. He’s, you know, quick in the huddle, out of the huddle, running. So, I think running the ball is a big part of what they need to do.” So now, Pittsburgh finds itself at a crossroads. Whose philosophy do they follow now: Rodgers’ or Smith’s? 

Can Aaron Rodgers trust this offense?

Bettis’ concern over Najee Harris’ exit now makes even more sense when you look at the Steelers’ current running back room. Jaylen Warren is the starter by default, but his 511-yard season in 2024 doesn’t scream workhorse. Rookie Kaleb Johnson from Iowa, who racked up over 1,500 yards last year, will get every chance to be the power back, while Kenneth Gainwell brings experience as a third-down option. Together, it’s a patchwork group with potential but no proven lead player.

At receiver, the headline is Metcalf, but Pittsburgh’s depth chart falls off quickly. Metcalf, for all his size and highlight reels, isn’t a high-volume WR1. The rest – Calvin Austin III, Robert Woods, Roman Wilson – are placeholders unless Arthur Smith’s tight end obsession pays off. Expect Jonnu Smith and Pat Freiermuth to play massive roles underneath and up the seams, especially if Metcalf is doubled up.

But none of it matters without protection. Aaron Rodgers’ downfall in New York was a shaky O-line, and the Steelers can’t afford a repeat. This unit holds the keys to Rodgers’ survival. If they click, the offense might just hum. If not? Pittsburgh’s ‘all-in’ move could explode before Thanksgiving.