Aaron Rodgers made his debut in a Steelers uniform at mandatory minicamp. There’s one thing that’s already evident about the 4-time league MVP: He knows how to say the right things.
Shortly after Aaron Rodgers signed with the Steelers, yours truly wondered out loud if the 41 year old veteran “still loved football.” Retired Steelers scout Mark Gorsack had first posed the question on a podcast before the 2025 NFL Draft, but given that Rodgers signing seemed to be timed to miss OTAs, it was still worth asking.
Aaron Rodgers 1st practice with the Steelers. Photo Credit: Karl Roser, Steelers.com
While no reporter asked Rodgers that directly, one did get pretty close inquiring, “Internally, though, is there a drive for you, motivation in terms of pursuing that?” Rodgers answer could have been clearer:
I have a lot that motivates me, but this is about the love of the game. The game has given me so much over the years. And making peace with a nice long career.
Even the most hardened Rodgers skeptic couldn’t have asked for a better answer. Of course “its very easy to say the words” as Art Rooney II once remarked about Ben Roethlisberger (albeit in a entirely different context.)
But here Rodgers is already matching words with deeds — when the highest paid player in NFL history signs a 13 million-and-change contract he’s clearly not doing it for the money.
But Rodgers right answers didn’t stop there. When pressed further about why he’s still playing, response was revealing:
I think that’s what it is. I don’t need it. For my ego, I don’t need it, to keep playing. A lot of decisions that I’ve made over my career and life from strictly the ego, even if they turn out well, they’re always unfulfilling. But the decisions made from the soul are usually pretty fulfilling.
Wow. An ancient Greek would interpret this as Rodgers saying he isn’t doing this just to fulfill the appetitive side of his soul, but also the spirited side. So yes, Aaron Rodgers still has passion for the game.
And there’s another element to consider: This is quite a statement from a player known for his me-first attitudes. The real test of course will come when Pat McAfee asks Rodgers if Calvin Austin, Roman Wilson or Pat Freiermuth ran the wrong route at a critical moment in a close loss.
But taken at face value, this is quite encouraging.
Aaron Rodgers didn’t practice with the team on the first day of mini camp. Instead the coaches had him listening to play calls through a helmet while reviewing play scripts. He did work in individual drills and connected with D.K. Metcalf several times.
The practice makes perfect curmudgeon in me still wants to say that he should practiced at minicamp just as he should have have been at OTAs, but Mike Tomlin seemed to be speaking to that when he argued that a guy like Will Howard benefited more from those snaps than Rodgers would have.
And Mike Tomlin would know better than me.
