How Aaron Rodgers’ reference to Mike Tomlin led him to the Steelers

LATROBE, Pa. — Aaron Rodgers has a well-documented suspicious streak, and in some unspecified time in the future this previous spring — throughout one among many conversations exploring a possible partnership — the four-time MVP questioned how Mike Tomlin’s recall might be so acutely correct.

Is he taking notes? Rodgers questioned.

With out studying the reply, the embattled quarterback took no offense.

“I used to be (very) trustworthy with him about what was occurring in my private life,” Rodgers recalled Wednesday. “Whether or not he wrote it down, I don’t give a s—. The truth that he would bear in mind vital issues that have been occurring in my life was actually significant to me.

“It felt like I used to be speaking to a pal, not a coach. As a result of it wasn’t speaking X’s and O’s; it was, ‘How’s this individual? How is that individual doing?’ And that actually meant lots to me, and it was on the forefront of my thoughts after I made this resolution to play.”

The bond Rodgers fashioned with Tomlin, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Nineteenth-year head coach, was the driving power behind his return for a twenty first season. The seemingly future first-ballot Corridor of Famer underscored that time earlier this week throughout a dialog with The Athletic, expressing pleasure about experiencing coaching camp with a 3rd NFL franchise following a tumultuous two-year stint along with his second.

After being launched by the New York Jets in March, Rodgers, 41, explored the potential for taking part in for the Steelers, New York Giants or Minnesota Vikings whereas additionally pondering retirement. His deliberations coincided with a interval by which a number of individuals in his inside circle have been suffering from most cancers, delaying and complicating the method.

Ultimately, he was swayed by Tomlin’s endurance, empathy and listening (and/or notetaking) abilities, signing a below-market, one-year cope with the Steelers in June.

“We didn’t have a friendship from Day 1, however there was a respect degree that was undoubtedly mutual that I felt from the primary dialog on,” Rodgers mentioned. “He talked about it the opposite day (in a gathering): Listening is a talent. I used to be sorting by means of a whole lot of stuff in my private life. I didn’t should be recruited, however I appreciated the way in which that he talked to me, and the respect that he had for me that got here out each time we talked. And I believe he’s an enormous a part of this complete factor.”

The respect was mutual. After parting along with his high two quarterbacks from 2024, Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, Tomlin — who has by no means had a shedding season however is coming off his sixth consecutive playoff defeat — believed Rodgers was nonetheless able to serving to Pittsburgh degree up.

“I don’t see any deterioration in his talent set or his skills, his potential to throw the soccer, his ardour or relationship with the sport,” Tomlin mentioned. “He’s been actually constant in his messaging, courting again to the spring. His agenda is and has been profitable, and that’s music to my ears. The love affair that he has along with his recreation is equally as engaging to me as his statistics or his resume.”

Rodgers’ lone Tremendous Bowl victory got here on the expense of Tomlin’s Steelers 14 years in the past — the then-Inexperienced Bay Packers quarterback earned Tremendous Bowl XLV MVP honors — and the 2 males have lengthy appreciated one another’s aggressive fireplace. On Wednesday, Rodgers recalled an amusing interplay from a 2021 recreation between the Packers and Steelers at Lambeau Subject: As Pittsburgh subbed out quite a few defenders between performs, Rodgers tried to tug one among his signature strikes by calling for a fast snap whereas there have been greater than 11 Steelers on the sector.

“He referred to as timeout straight away,” Rodgers mentioned. “And I seemed over — angrily — but additionally smiling as a result of he was good sufficient to do this, as a result of we’ve carried out that for thus lengthy. And he simply form of smiled and nodded to me, like, ‘Good attempt, previous man.’ I cherished that second, and it caught with me.”

After an injury-marred and dysfunctional interlude with the Jets, Rodgers is happy to cap his profession with a corporation he views as one of many sport’s most secure.

“This place jogs my memory of Inexperienced Bay,” he mentioned. “And I say that with the utmost quantity of respect, as a result of there are a couple of cornerstone franchises within the league, and everyone knows who these are. And there’s a cause they’ve had sustained excellence through the years. Clearly, they’ve gained six Tremendous Bowls right here and Inexperienced Bay’s gained 13 world championships. However there’s a means that they function that units them aside, and it’s form of ingrained within the tradition.

“I really feel like as a result of there may be such a historical past of excellence that there’s virtually an underlying, tacit means of carrying your self. Some homeowners, nowadays, are fast to tug the set off to make a change. However when you may have the best tradition, and it’s apparent what to do, the one factor that by no means adjustments, and shouldn’t, is the individual on the high, main from the entrance.”

Tomlin wasn’t that affected person. As he waited for Rodgers to signal, the coach started plotting a juiced-up offensive assault designed to maximise the quarterback’s arm expertise. The Steelers have been uncharacteristically aggressive over the offseason, starting in March once they despatched a second-round decide to the Seattle Seahawks for two-time Professional Bowl receiver DK Metcalf, then signed him to a five-year, $150 million extension.

Rodgers and Metcalf, who’re training-camp dorm mates, fashioned an prompt connection, starting with a personal throwing session in Los Angeles months earlier than the quarterback signed with Pittsburgh.

“He noticed how cerebral I used to be in regards to the recreation and noticed how arduous I labored,” Metcalf mentioned. “And I believe that simply gave him an additional nudge to return on over.”

The primary Aaron Rodgers-to-DK Metcalf completion of coaching camp pic.twitter.com/e60ulZhiGP

— Mike DeFabo (@MikeDeFabo) July 24, 2025

In late June, the Steelers acquired Professional Bowl tight finish Jonnu Smith as a part of a blockbuster commerce with the Miami Dolphins.

“You don’t go do enterprise with Aaron Rodgers with out equipping him with the expertise that highlights his talent set,” Tomlin mentioned.

For his half, Rodgers did the Steelers a stable by taking a bargain-rate deal (one 12 months, $13.65 million) that helped liberate salary-cap house. The NFL’s profession chief in passer ranking virtually definitely might have commanded a bigger wage, however Rodgers, who acquired married over the offseason, mentioned he heeded the recommendation of one among his new in-laws.

“I used to be taking orders from my (new) sister-in-law, Mia,” Rodgers mentioned, smiling. “She’s 20 and she or he’s the brains of the household; you simply must ask her.”

He laughed, then continued, “No — however that’s partially severe for certain. Each crew that I talked to, I mentioned, ‘Pay attention, if I play, I’m not going to take a ton of cash. I’ve made a ton of cash. I don’t want the cash.’”

What Rodgers craves most of all is a satisfying last act — in partnership with a longtime coach he deeply admires. Well being will play a significant factor. After struggling a season-ending torn Achilles tendon on the Jets’ fourth offensive play of 2023, Rodgers had his share of injury-related challenges final season, battling by means of knee, ankle and hamstring illnesses to start out all 17 video games. He threw 11 interceptions, tied for the third-highest complete of his profession, and the Jets struggled by means of a 5-12 marketing campaign.

That furthered the notion that Rodgers’ finest days are behind him, reducing outdoors expectations for a Steelers crew coming off a 10-7 common season and 28-14 first-round playoff defeat to the Baltimore Ravens. The quarterback is embracing the problem.

“There are lots of people speaking about different groups, and at this level it’s completely advantageous,” Rodgers mentioned. “I imply, a number of the groups we’ve had that have been nice through the years in Inexperienced Bay have been form of afterthoughts at instances. However, you recognize, I believe the way in which we’re constructed, we’ve acquired an opportunity to be a kind of groups within the combine once we get to December, when the climate adjustments and also you’ve acquired to win some cold-weather video games. And I’ve carried out that previously through the years.

“A whole lot of guys are battle-strong and have been by means of some powerful stuff. And with the management we’ve acquired — and with Mike T. — I like our possibilities.”

(High picture: Gene J. Puskar / Related Press)