In a move that has ignited fierce debate online, running back Kenneth Gainwell was voted the Steelersâ 2025 Team MVP by his own teammates â over Aaron Rodgers and defensive star T.J. Watt. Gainwell, who signed a oneâyear contract this past offseason and was expected to be a supporting piece, exploded onto the scene with a breakout campaign. Behind the Steel Curtain
The stats tell the story: Gainwell accumulated impressive numbers in both rushing and receiving, edging his way to nearly 1,000 scrimmage yards and scoring multiple touchdowns â a rare offensive generation in Steel City. He now joins an exclusive club of Steelers MVPs that includes franchise legends, and fans are split wide open over whether Pittsburghâs future now belongs to âKenny,â not Rodgers. SportsNet Pittsburgh
Controversial fan take: âGainwell MVP proves offense is evolving â Steelers arenât a QBâcentric team anymore!â
Opposing fan take: âRodgers carries this team every week â this MVP vote was a slap in the face!â
Steelers groups and Reddit boards are erupting in heated debate â is this a changing of the guard, or a disrespect of veteran leadership? Reddit
đĽ 2. T.J. Watt Returns Just in Time for Ravens WAR

Perhaps the biggest emotional roller coaster of the moment: **T.J. Watt is expected to suit up this Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens after suffering a partially collapsed lung in practice weeks ago. Watt was sidelined for three games and underwent treatment, leaving fans wondering if Pittsburghâs season would crumble without their defensive anchor. Reuters
Now, the eightâtime Pro Bowler is cleared and ready for their Week 18 âwinnerâtakesâallâ showdown â a game that will determine the AFC North champion and playoff fate for both teams. With Watt on the field, the Steelers suddenly have a dramatic edge in pass rush and physicality that Ravens fans werenât expecting. Yahoo Tháť Thao
This has sparked wild debate on social platforms:
đĽ âWattâs return is destiny â Steelers clinch the North!â
đĽ âHe wonât be 100% â this is a risk, not a reward!â
Either way, Pittsburghâs defense swings heavily toward chaos vs. order with Watt back.
đ§ 3. Rodgersâ Retirement Whisper Before Playoff Showdown
As if the MVP controversy and Wattâs comeback werenât already enough drama, Aaron Rodgers â age 42 â has dropped hints that this might be his last ride. Rodgers is undecided about playing in 2026 and has referenced his private life and desire to spend time off the field in cryptic comments. The Sun+1
The timing couldnât be more explosive:
đ Rodgers acknowledging life choices
đĽ Steelers on the brink of playoffs
𤯠Fans split on whether Rodgersâ future is tied to a deep postseason run or a fade into retirement
Ravens star Marlon Humphrey even made it clear: he wants to make Rodgersâ final memory a losing one, turning the narrative into personal vendetta territory. The Times of India
Now fans ask:
đš Is Rodgers playing through inspiration⌠or desperation?
đš Would Rodgers retire if the Steelers lose?
đš Does Pittsburgh even need him in 2026 if Gainwell becomes MVP?
Steelers Nation is ROASTING comment threads with hot takes every hour. Reddit
âď¸ 4. Ravens Rivalry: History, Hate & High Stakes
This matchup isnât just another game. Itâs steeped in decades of bitter rivalry. The Steelers lead the allâtime series against the Ravens, but this game carries title implications â itâs for the AFC North championship. Wikipedia
Over the years, Steelers vs. Ravens has been one of the NFLâs nastiest rivalries. Mike Tomlin vs. John Harbaugh is a coaching feud nearly two decades in the making, with fans on both sides ready to explode â especially this time with playoff seating at stake. New York Post
And itâs not just fans talking â social media debates are boiling:
đĄ âRavens havenât beaten us in Pittsburgh enough!â
đ âSteelers choke in big games!â
đ âThis rivalry season finale is THE defining moment of 2026!â
đď¸ 5. Playoff Fate: DoâOrâDie Drama
If the Steelers win, they take the AFC North title and a home playoff game, and Rodgersâ legacy surges upward. If they lose, Pittsburgh misses the postseason entirely â a devastating blow considering the talent and fan expectations fueling this chaotic season. Yahoo Tháť Thao
Fans are already locked in:
â Some think Watt + Rodgers equals North champs
â Others believe Gainwellâs MVP season proves offense is who they are
â Others believe this season ends in heartbreak and a fan purge
Steelers fan forums are erupting â not just in support or criticism, but emotionally raw debates about the future of the franchise. Reddit
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