For nearly two decades, the Pittsburgh Steelers have been the NFL's model of consistency—no losing seasons since 2003. But that consistency has come with a painful asterisk: no playoff wins since 2017. And according to NFL analyst Zach Gelb, that's exactly the problem.

As the Steelers prepare to potentially bring back Aaron Rodgers for the 2026 season, Gelb isn't buying the hype. After all, Rodgers led Pittsburgh to a 10-win season and an AFC North title last year—only to get blown out at home by the Houston Texans in the Wild Card Round. "It is completely pointless to bring back Aaron Rodgers with the Pittsburgh Steelers," Gelb said on 365 Sports.

The offseason brought a rare chance for a reset. Head coach Mike Tomlin stepped down, and Rodgers hit free agency. Instead of building for the future, the Steelers doubled down by hiring Mike McCarthy and waiting four long months for Rodgers to make up his mind. Gelb sees this as a symptom of a deeper issue: an organization that's grown too comfortable with mediocrity.

"The Steelers have become a complacent organization," Gelb explained. "They're no longer in the business of wanting excellence. They're fine with just winning their nine, 10, 11 games each and every year and not making the postseason."

Gelb's prescription? Give young quarterbacks Will Howard or Drew Allar a real shot. Even if it doesn't work out, the payoff could be a high draft pick and a chance to land a true franchise quarterback. Instead, the Steelers are opting for a veteran who, at this stage, guarantees another year of regular-season respectability but little else.

With six Super Bowl titles in their history, the Steelers once set the standard for championship excellence. But if they keep running in place with Rodgers, they risk becoming a cautionary tale—a team that traded greatness for good enough.