“Baltimore is just a better team”: Patrick Rooney Jr gives Steelers a reality check that could fuel biggest rivalry of 2025

On July 9, 2025, Patrick Rooney Jr. surprised football fans with a bold and unexpected statement. During a podcast appearance, he didn’t hold back his thoughts about two major AFC North rivals.

Without naming names right away, he hinted that one team had clearly taken over. His words were strong, emotional, and pointed directly at a tough truth fans weren’t ready for. The comment quickly caught attention online. People started asking, what made him say this? Who was he talking about? And what does this mean for the new NFL season ahead?

Patrick Rooney Jr. on why the Baltimore Ravens outshine the Pittsburgh Steelers

On July 9, 2025, during the PBKC Picks podcast, Patrick Rooney Jr., cousin of Pittsburgh Steelers president Art Rooney II, made bold claims about the team’s biggest rivals. He said, “Baltimore is just a better team,” and added, “They kicked the crap out of us in the playoff game last year.” He didn’t hold back, saying, “They are gonna steamroll us this year.”

Rooney Jr. has taken issue with the Pittsburgh Steelers' offseason acquisitions, including Aaron Rodgers and Jalen Ramsey, stating those acquisitions don't address the gap between the Baltimore Ravens with Lamar Jackson and the Cincinnati Bengals with Joe Burrow and it raises questions about the franchise's direction. He stated flashy names alone can't fix bigger problems.

As a member of the Rooney family, his comments provided more fuel to the fire in the Steelers–Ravens rivalry going into the 2025 season.

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Patrick Rooney Jr. adds context and details from the podcast

Patrick Rooney Jr. began by calling out the “all in” narrative around the Pittsburgh Steelers this year. He asked, “What does that mean?” He doubted a veteran quarterback, even someone like Aaron Rodgers at his peak could help the Pittsburgh Steelers compete with top teams. As he discussed team offense, defense, and roster moves, he praised Baltimore Ravens’ roster depth and confidence.He referred back to the January 2025 Wild Card playoff game, where the Baltimore Ravens defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 28–14. That matchup fueled his opinion. He said hearing his family name giving such sharp criticism was unusual, but it shows how serious the rivalry has become.