When the Pittsburgh Steelers reshaped their roster for the 2025 season, the goal was simple: win now. With the playoff race tightening and December football in full swing, one question stands out just as much as postseason scenarios—who truly deserves to be the team’s Most Valuable Player? Two names rise above the rest: veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers and do-it-all running back Kenneth Gainwell.
On the surface, Rodgers feels like the obvious answer. The future Hall of Famer was brought to Pittsburgh for moments exactly like this, and he delivered on Sunday against Baltimore. In a pivotal win over the Ravens, Rodgers threw for nearly 300 yards, accounted for two touchdowns—one through the air and one on the ground—and repeatedly used his command at the line of scrimmage to exploit defensive looks. His audibles led directly to some of the Steelers’ biggest offensive plays of the day.
Over the course of the season, Rodgers has posted a 65.4 percent completion rate, thrown for 2,370 yards, and totaled 21 touchdowns. More importantly, his presence has stabilized an offense that needed leadership and confidence under center. With four games left, Rodgers will be the single biggest factor in whether Pittsburgh contends for the AFC North or comes up short. That reality alone carries significant weight in the MVP discussion.
Still, Kenneth Gainwell’s case is far stronger than many might expect. His raw rushing numbers—371 yards and four touchdowns on 4.6 yards per carry—are solid, but they only tell part of the story. Gainwell’s true value shows up in how the Steelers use him. As a pass catcher and pseudo slot receiver, he has become one of the offense’s most reliable weapons. Gainwell is second on the team in receptions with 50 catches for 286 yards and two receiving touchdowns, consistently moving the chains and creating big plays in key moments.
When rushing and receiving are combined, Gainwell has produced 657 total yards and six total touchdowns. Just as importantly, his versatility has kept defenses honest, opened up the playbook, and given Rodgers a trusted option whenever a play breaks down. In terms of all-around impact, few Steelers have matched Gainwell’s week-to-week consistency.
This MVP race is closer than it looks. Gainwell has been indispensable as a dual-threat weapon and a steady force in the offense, arguably outperforming expectations more than anyone on the roster. But in Pittsburgh, value is often defined by moments—and by January ambitions.
Aaron Rodgers was signed for pressure-packed games, division races, and postseason pushes. If he leads the Steelers to an AFC North title and snaps the franchise’s nearly decade-long postseason win drought, the MVP decision becomes clear. As impactful as Gainwell has been, the Steelers’ 2025 season will ultimately be defined by No. 8. For that reason, Aaron Rodgers stands as the likely—and fitting—team MVP.