Today I wanted to provide my charting for the Steelers pass game through the 2025 regular season and playoffs.
A couple of notes before we jump in. Thanks to Thomas Mock for his great work that helped me learn much of what I’m using in these articles visually. Spikes and clear throwaways are removed due to being the correct situational decision, along with bats at the line of scrimmage (impacts the intended pass location).
Here’s a link of this year’s midseason article, along with past season wrap-ups for context:
2025 Steelers Midseason Passing Charts
Let’s start with a simple view of 2025’s charted passes (541), starting with number of throws at each pass distance. In other words, quantity of passes at each air yardage:
#1. 0-5 air-yards: 36.4 percent. (Midseason: 41.1 percent).
#2. Behind-the-Line: 25.1 percent. (Midseason: 24.2 percent).
#3. 5-10 air-yards: 20.3 percent. (Midseason: 20.3 percent).
#4. 10-15 air-yards: 10.4 percent. (Midseason: 9.1 percent).
#5. Explosive (20-plus air-yards): 10.0 percent. (Midseason: 9.1 percent).
#6. 15-20 air-yards: 7.9 percent. (Midseason: 7.4 percent).
Compared to the midseason charting, the rankings of pass distances were very similar. The only change was an increase in 10-15 air yard passes, after being tied with explosives midway through 2025.
Overall, we see 0-5 air yards ranked first, which is the most common pass distance for most NFL teams. That rate decreased the second half of 2025, though, with increases at nearly all other pass distances. The first half of the 2025 season was largely a 10 air yards or less passing game for Rodgers and the Steelers (77.9 percent), compared to 74.5 percent by years end. So, more variety in pass distances as the season wore on.
Comparing the stats with 2024’s full charting also reveals a substantial change in Pittsburgh’s 2025 passing game. Behind the line passes skyrocketed with Rodgers, rising to 11.2 percent mid-season, and ending the year at 8.8 percent more than 2024. Specific context to the 2025 Steelers eye test, leaning on the screen/short game, along Rodgers getting rid of the football quick overall.
Explosive air yardage was down 5.7 percent by 2025’s midpoint, ending the year at 4.9 percent. The 2025 offense has lacked that explosive play element overall, hitting a few nice ones, but largely relied on YAC to get them (capping their pass game). The intermediate passing game (10-20 yards) was virtually the same frequency as 2024.
Here is a dot chart of completions/incompletions thus far, focusing on QB Aaron Rodgers’ 493 charted passes (excluding Mason Rudolph’s much smaller 48 pass sample size):
A picture speaks a thousand words. Visual representation of the high usage of five air yards or less, and big fall in connection and volume downfield. Let’s break down some more stats to quantify things further.
Completion Rates By Distance:
RODGERS:
Behind-the-line: 117/124 (94.4 percent). Midseason- 50/55 (90.9 percent).
0-5 air-yards: 138/177 (78.0 percent). Midseason- 76/94 (80.9 percent).
5-10 air-yards: Â 67/102 (65.7 percent). Midseason- 32/47 (68.1 percent).
10-15 air-yards: 25/52 (48.1 percent). Midseason- 10/21 (47.6 percent).
15-20 air-yards: 17/39 (43.6 percent). Midseason- 8/17 (47.1 percent).
Explosive: 16/51 (31.4 percent). Midseason- 8/21 (38.1 percent).
Really telling info compared to Rodgers’ 70 percent overall completion rate on charted passes this season (72.9 midseason) and furthers some of the points made earlier. Stellar 90-plus behind the line rate throughout 2025, particularly the back half of the year (+3.5). Nearly every other pass distance took a dip in the completion rates except for 10-15 air yards (slightly).
Explosive passing increased in frequency but was the biggest negative change in Rodgers’ completion rates (-6.7). For recent comparison, 2024 Steelers QB Russell Wilson had a substantially stronger 56.3 percent explosive completion rate. Different playing styles no doubt, but the explosive passing game must improve moving forward if the 2026 Steelers want to be competitive in today’s NFL, unlike the last decade.
Completion Rates By Location:
RODGERS:
Outside left numbers: 56/102 (54.9 percent). Midseason- 25/50 (50 percent).
Left numbers-left hash: 92/120 (76.7 percent). Midseason- 47/63 (74.6 percent).
Inside hashes: 22/30 (73.3 percent). Midseason- 7/13 (53.8 percent).
Right hash-right numbers: 113/140 (80.7 percent). Midseason- 54/62 (87.1 percent).
Outside right numbers: 62/101 (61.4 percent). Midseason- 34/41 (82.9 percent).
Rodgers clearly had nice success to the right side of the field at midseason of 2025. Both areas came down to earth by the end of the year, especially outside the right numbers (-21.5 percent). This was by far the most negative change the back half of 2025. The biggest positive bump was inside the hashes (+19.5 percent completion rate),
The average pass distance there was six yards, though, so not like it was deep middle overall (eight 10-plus throws, only two of 20-plus). Rodgers’ best full season result was right hash to right numbers, while the worst season rate was outside the left numbers, though the latter improved from midseason. Overall, from the middle of the field to the left sideline improved, while right hash to the right sideline got worse.
Now for the heat-maps. First will be all charted passes, then completions only:
Less color is expected going from the all-attempts view to completions only. It’s a pretty stark difference. Yes, Aaron Rodgers reputation of quick and short passing late in his career has been generally well documented, but the data reveals valuable info that’s more specific. Largely less than five air yards from just outside the numbers to the hash, particularly on the right side of the field.
In the intermediate pass game, Rodgers connected from the numbers to the middle of the field most often. Breaking down Rodgers’ explosive air yards further, only two completions outside the left numbers (both to WR Calvin Austin III), a particular area that didn’t threaten defenses.
His 30-plus air yard passes were also a struggle, going 5-of-16 (31.3 percent). For comparison, Russell Wilson more than doubled that completion number in 2024, while playing six less games. Explosive frequency and completion rate was far from good enough in 2025.
In terms of interceptions, which Rodgers limited well overall, seven of eight came at 10 or more air yards (three on explosives). Five of eight were between the numbers. Touchdowns (24 total): behind the line (three), 0-5 air yards (five), 5-10 air yards (two), 10-15 air yards (five), six 15-20 air yards (six), explosive (seven). While the overall explosive passing game was lacking, seven explosive air yard TDs (on just 16 completions) means when they hit, they thankfully hit big (43.8 percent).
It was definitely a rollercoaster ride in 2025, and many changes are on the horizon with head coach Mike Tomlin resigning. That brings even more changes than just Tomlin, of course, and hopefully includes a more successful passing game in 2026.