Marquez Valdes-Scantling has shared a huddle with some of the best quarterbacks the NFL has ever seen. But when asked who tops his personal list, the veteran wide receiver didn’t hesitate: it’s Aaron Rodgers.
That might raise a few eyebrows in Kansas City, where Valdes-Scantling spent two seasons catching passes from Patrick Mahomes - the face of the NFL’s current dynasty and a quarterback already carving his name into the history books. MVS was part of those back-to-back championship runs in 2022 and 2023, walking away with two Super Bowl rings and a front-row seat to Mahomes’ brilliance.
Still, when reporters asked him after the Steelers’ Monday Night Football win over the Dolphins whether Rodgers can still summon some of that MVP magic at age 42, Valdes-Scantling didn’t mince words.
“Obviously, I think he’s the best quarterback to ever play this game,” he said. “If he’s 65 years old, he can still spin the ball. He’s always playing chess with the defense.”
That’s a bold endorsement - not just of Rodgers’ legacy, but of what he still brings to the table late in his career. And it’s not coming from someone unfamiliar with the four-time MVP.
Valdes-Scantling began his NFL career in Green Bay, where he spent four seasons as one of Rodgers’ go-to deep threats. That connection helped build a foundation of trust, and it’s clear that bond still runs deep.
Now reunited in Pittsburgh, the two are once again sharing the field - albeit in a much different context. Valdes-Scantling joined the Steelers in October after a successful tryout, and while his role has been limited, he made a notable impact in Week 15 with a 19-yard touchdown grab. It was a flash of the chemistry he and Rodgers developed in Green Bay, and a reminder of why the Steelers brought him in.
For Rodgers, having a familiar face in the locker room is nothing new. He’s long valued continuity with his receivers, especially those who understand the nuances of his play style - the back-shoulder throws, the extended plays, the subtle signals at the line. Valdes-Scantling fits that mold, and even if he’s bounced around the league in recent years - with stops in Buffalo, New Orleans, Seattle, and San Francisco - his connection with Rodgers gives him a unique edge in Pittsburgh’s offense.
So is this a slight to Mahomes? Not necessarily.
Valdes-Scantling knows firsthand how elite Mahomes is - he’s seen him dominate from the pocket, improvise on the run, and deliver in the biggest moments. But when it comes to who he believes is the best to ever do it, he’s sticking with the quarterback who helped launch his career.
And in a league where opportunity can be fleeting - especially for a receiver trying to carve out a role in a crowded room - it makes sense that Valdes-Scantling would lean into that history. He’s not just backing Rodgers out of sentiment; he’s seen the chess match unfold in real time, and he still believes Rodgers has a few moves left on the board.
At 42, Rodgers is defying the usual expiration date for NFL quarterbacks. And with trusted targets like Valdes-Scantling in the mix, don’t be surprised if he keeps spinning it - whether he’s 42, 45, or, as MVS joked, 65.