Aaron Rodgers didn’t exactly come out guns blazing in Week 15’s Monday Night Football clash against the Dolphins-but when it mattered, he delivered. The Steelers' offense sputtered through its first three drives, punting each time, but found its rhythm late in the second quarter with a 12-play, 60-yard march that ended with the game’s first touchdown and a 7-3 halftime lead.
The highlight of the drive? A pair of Tush Pushes that would’ve made the Eagles proud.
But this wasn’t Jalen Hurts behind center. It was Connor Heyward-yes, the Steelers’ fullback/tight end hybrid-lining up under center not once, but twice.
First, on a fourth-and-one from the Dolphins’ 15-yard line, Heyward burrowed forward to move the chains. Then, three plays later, he did it again on third-and-goal from the one, powering into the end zone for six.
And where was Aaron Rodgers during all this? Standing behind Heyward, hands in his pockets, looking more like a guy waiting for a train than a quarterback in a goal-line formation.
Cool, calm, and completely uninvolved in the mechanics of the play-at least physically. But make no mistake, Rodgers was still running the show.
Joe and Troy love how Aaron Rodgers handles the tush push 😂 pic.twitter.com/UQ7lObBteq
— ESPN (@espn) December 16, 2025
ESPN’s Troy Aikman had a field day with it, circling Rodgers on the broadcast and laughing with Joe Buck about how little he had to do on the play. It was vintage Rodgers: understated, efficient, and just a little bit cheeky.
And all this with a broken wrist.
Aaron Rodgers is just there for the vibes 😂 pic.twitter.com/xWkAF63bJ5
— DraftKings (@DraftKings) December 16, 2025
Rodgers wasn’t just a bystander in the first half, though. He was nearly flawless through the air, completing 13 of 14 passes for 105 yards. No touchdowns through the air, but no mistakes either-just steady, controlled quarterbacking that kept the Steelers in position.
Heyward, meanwhile, made the most of his limited touches. Four carries, four yards, and one very important touchdown.
It’s not often you see a fullback take snaps under center in back-to-back short-yardage situations, but Pittsburgh leaned into it-and it worked. Twice.
So who’s the more effective quarterback tonight? Rodgers with the surgical passing, or Heyward with the bulldozer mentality? It’s a tongue-in-cheek question, of course-but it speaks to how Pittsburgh is finding creative ways to move the ball, especially in the red zone.
The Steelers’ offense may have started slow, but with Rodgers managing the game and Heyward doing the dirty work, they’ve found a way to take control heading into the second half.