“He's not Tom Brady": NFL analyst questions Aaron Rodgers' retirement hype after Steelers move sparks debate

Aaron Rodgers expected retirement talk once he announced that the 2026 NFL season would be his last. What he probably did not expect was the backlash that followed almost immediately. Days after confirming his future with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Rodgers found himself at the center of another heated television debate.

This time, ESPN analyst Mike Wilbon questioned the growing hype around Rodgers and the Steelers. While Wilbon respected Rodgers’ Hall of Fame career, he made it clear during ESPN’s First Take on May 21 that he does not see the veteran quarterback in the same category as Tom Brady late in his career. The comments quickly lit up NFL discussions online.

Mike Wilbon says Aaron Rodgers and Pittsburgh Steelers are getting too much hype

Aaron Rodgers signed a one-year deal with Pittsburgh earlier this month after weeks of speculation around his future. Shortly after joining the Steelers, the four-time MVP confirmed that the 2026 season would likely be the final chapter of his 22-year NFL career.

That sudden announcement instantly shifted attention toward a possible farewell tour. However, Mike Wilbon believes people are now overstating Rodgers’ current impact instead of appreciating what he already accomplished.

Speaking on ESPN’s First Take, Wilbon praised Rodgers’ resume but pushed back against the idea that the quarterback still carries elite-level relevance.

“His career is one of the great careers in NFL history, four MVPs,” Wilbon said on First Take. “I know it only resulted in one Super Bowl championship and we tend to just forget people. People act like John Elway didn’t play the game. We don’t need to exaggerate it.”

Wilbon then turned the conversation toward Pittsburgh’s chances in the AFC North. Despite the excitement around Rodgers joining the Steelers, he questioned whether the team truly belongs among the conference favorites.

“He had a great career that's going to result in the wearing of a gold jacket in the Hall of Fame as it should be,” Wilbon said. “This notion that he and the Steelers are relevant to what? Not even in their own division. They are gonna be the third team in their own division behind Baltimore for sure and likely Cincinnati.”

The sharpest moment came when Wilbon compared Rodgers with other aging superstars who remained dominant near retirement.

“At this stage, he is not LeBron James. He's not Tom Brady. We don't need to overstate what he is now to appreciate what he has been.”

The criticism adds another layer of pressure before Rodgers even begins his first season in Pittsburgh. The Steelers won the AFC North in 2025, but their playoff run ended quickly. Rodgers now enters what he says will be his final NFL season with expectations already sky high.

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