Aaron Rodgers is spending his final NFL season doing more than just steering the Steelers’ offense. He’s also stepping into a role that comes with a different kind of responsibility: helping the younger guys along.
That part of the job has fit Rodgers, even if it means opening up more than he usually would. The 42-year-old has long kept to himself, but around this Steelers group, that approach has shifted. His teammates have noticed.
“He’s so open and so easy to talk to,” Mason Rudolph said via TRIB LIVE. “Easy to ask questions. He’s been a valuable resource.”
Rodgers returned to Pittsburgh on a one-year, $25 million deal after leading the Steelers to the Wild Card game last season. It’s his final NFL season, and after more than 18 years in Green Bay and two injury-marred years with the Jets, he’s leaning into the veteran presence that comes naturally now.
This offseason, Rodgers has done his part to bring the team together. He hosted bonding trips, organized workouts and stayed focused on keeping himself healthy.
He’s also trying to get comfortable under new coach Mike McCarthy, the same man he won a Super Bowl with in Green Bay. McCarthy replaced Mike Tomlin, who spent 19 seasons as Pittsburgh's head coach.
Rodgers may not be part of the early preseason games, but he has been in scrimmages. And whether he’s on the field or on the sideline, he’s helping settle things down when the tempo starts to spike.
“I like to be on the headset and calm everybody down,” Rodgers said. “Usually the first game, it’s a little hectic on the headset, so I like to be the voice of reason, (make an) occasional dad joke or one-liner, just keep everybody settled in a little bit.”
That kind of presence could matter for a Steelers roster that has added more young talent around him. Rudolph is part of that mix, and so are Will Howard and Drew Allar, the latter two drafted in 2025 and 2026. Pittsburgh also strengthened the group by trading for Michael Pittman Jr. and signing Rico Dowdle, among others.
For rookie Germie Bernard, Rodgers’ value shows up in the small stuff and the steady advice that comes with it.
“Every day is a learning process,” Bernard said. “He’s been coaching me up on the things that he’s learned through the years.
He’s great at giving advice to anybody that needs it. He’s great at coaching.
He knows how to come to his guys and get the best out of his guys."
Rodgers will still have to deal with the usual punishment that comes with playing quarterback, including sacks. But if he can keep producing, the Steelers will take that trade-off while also getting the benefit of a veteran who’s become a guide for the players around him.
His career numbers tell the story of how much he’s already seen: 264 games, 5,696 completions, 66,274 passing yards and 527 touchdowns. Now, in his final run, Rodgers is adding one more layer to that résumé.
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