Aaron Rodgers Turns Back the Clock With Rushing TD in Steelers Win Over Ravens
BALTIMORE - Aaron Rodgers may be 42, but don’t tell his legs that.
In a game that had playoff implications and classic AFC North grit, the Steelers' veteran quarterback pulled off a moment that brought the sideline to its feet and left defenders chasing shadows. On a third-and-goal in the first quarter, Rodgers faked the handoff, scanned the field, and - with the poise of a 21-year vet and the instincts of a backyard baller - tucked the ball and took off for the corner of the end zone.
What followed was a one-yard sprint that won’t show up in any highlight reels for its distance, but will be remembered for what it represented: Rodgers’ first rushing touchdown in nearly three years, and a spark that helped propel the Steelers to a 27-22 win over the Ravens.
“It’s been a long time,” Rodgers said afterward, smiling. “That wasn’t the play at all.
It was supposed to go to Jonnu [Smith], but the left side collapsed. I started running and realized I had two very large humans chasing me - and I might’ve been just a little faster than them.”
Those two “very large humans”? Ravens defensive linemen C.J.
Okoye and Travis Jones, both tipping the scales at over 340 pounds. Neither could catch the future Hall of Famer as he bootlegged untouched into the end zone.
Rodgers Still Has Some Juice
Rodgers’ touchdown came out of a 13 personnel look - one back, three tight ends - which meant top wideout DK Metcalf was watching from the sideline. But even he had to laugh at what he saw.
“I thought it was a busted play at first,” Metcalf said. “Then I saw him heading for the sideline and I just started cheering. My boy is still a dual-threat quarterback.”
That “dual-threat” label might be a stretch these days, but on Sunday, Rodgers earned it.
Calvin Austin III, one of the Steelers’ young receivers, said the team had run the same play in practice, and another quarterback took off with it. When a coach asked Rodgers if he’d do the same, the veteran didn’t bite.
“He said, ‘Nah, I’m gonna throw it,’” Austin recalled. “So when I saw him scrambling, I thought he was looking to pass.
Then I saw him really go for it, and I was like, ‘Oh, he’s running this one in.’ That was cool to see.”
Vintage Rodgers, With a Dash of Humor
Even the offensive line got in on the fun, trying to clock how fast Rodgers was moving on the play.
“We were asking him how fast he thought he ran,” rookie tackle Troy Fautanu said. “He probably hit 16 miles per hour, man. He was looking quick out there.”
Quick might be relative, but Rodgers’ mobility was more than just a footnote - it was a factor. He extended plays, evaded pressure, and kept Baltimore’s front guessing just enough to make a difference.
“He got us out of some situations,” Fautanu added. “When you’ve got a guy like that who can still make plays on the move, big things can happen.”
Tying a Legend, Feeling 40 (But Good)
The touchdown gave Rodgers 36 career rushing scores, tying him with none other than Michael Vick - a stat that speaks volumes about the full scope of Rodgers’ career. He’s not known for his legs, but he’s always known when to use them.
And while he’s the first to admit he’s not the same athlete he was a decade ago, Sunday was one of those days where everything just felt right.
“Some games you feel better than others,” Rodgers said. “I was telling the linemen, ‘You’ll understand this when you’re 40.’
Some days you wake up and feel great, and other days you’re wondering if you slept wrong. Today, I felt great.”
For the Steelers, Rodgers’ legs weren’t just a nostalgic moment - they were a difference-maker in a tight divisional win. And for a quarterback who’s seen it all, it was another reminder that even at 42, he still has a few tricks - and sprints - left in the tank.