Rodgers, Steelers go old with scheme, receivers in winning streak

Aaron Rodgers has always excelled in 11 personnel sets (1 RB, 1 TE, 3 WR), and his move to Pittsburgh might be the perfect chance to see it in action again. While there’s no official “preference chart,” the data and recent performance tell the story: Rodgers thrives in 11 personnel, posting higher passer ratings and yards per attempt when spreading the field with three wideouts.

A History of Success

In Green Bay, Rodgers’ offenses ran 11 personnel 55–65% of the time in recent years. The setup fits his strengths: quick reads, precise passing, and the ability to use motion to identify favorable matchups. Even with play-action or running plays, 11 personnel kept defenses guessing and allowed Rodgers to consistently maximize efficiency.

Bringing 11 Personnel to Pittsburgh

The Steelers have already started leaning more heavily on 11 personnel, especially after acquiring veteran receivers Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Adam Thielen. Against Miami on Monday, Pittsburgh ran 11 personnel more than usual—and it coincided with one of the team’s best offensive games of the season, both through the air and on the ground.

• Valdes-Scantling: Rodgers knows him well from Green Bay, meaning timing and trust are already in place for deep and intermediate throws. He also hauled in his first touchdown as a Steeler against Miami, showing his potential to make big plays even without a huge target share.

• Thielen: Even now, Thielen is a reliable threat on short-to-intermediate routes, giving Rodgers a steady, high-percentage option every play.

Together, they may be doing what Calvin Austin and Roman Wilson weren’t fully able to do—adding size, experience, and a level of respect from defenses. Even if neither gets a ton of targets, defenders have to account for them, opening up opportunities for the rest of the offense.

The combination of Rodgers and these veteran receivers amplifies the effectiveness of 11 personnel. Defenses are stretched both vertically and horizontally, Rodgers has multiple trusted reads on each play, and the running game benefits from defenders being forced to cover multiple threats.

Why Steelers Fans Should Be Excited

This setup isn’t just theoretical. The Week 15 win over Miami shows the potential: the offense was firing on all cylinders, mixing explosive plays through the air with efficient gains on the ground. Rodgers’ comfort in 11 personnel, paired with the skill, size, and experience of Valdes-Scantling and Thielen, gives Pittsburgh a blueprint to attack defenses more effectively down the stretch.

For Steelers fans, it could mean a more dynamic, balanced offense that finally clicks the way it was meant to under Rodgers. If the team continues to leverage 11 personnel, the combination of experience, timing, and matchup exploitation could make the Steelers’ offense a legitimate threat during a crucial stretch of games that will decide the AFC North.