LATROBE, Pa. — Aaron Rodgers has a well-documented suspicious streak, and at some point this past spring — during one of many conversations exploring a potential partnership — the four-time MVP wondered how Mike Tomlin’s recall could be so acutely accurate.
Is he taking notes? Rodgers wondered.
Without learning the answer, the embattled quarterback took no offense.
“I was (very) honest with him about what was going on in my personal life,” Rodgers recalled Wednesday. “Whether he wrote it down, I don’t give a s—. The fact that he would remember important things that were going on in my life was really meaningful to me.
“It felt like I was talking to a friend, not a coach. Because it wasn’t talking X’s and O’s; it was, ‘How’s this person? How is that person doing?’ And that really meant a lot to me, and it was at the forefront of my mind when I made this decision to play.”
The bond Rodgers formed with Tomlin, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 19th-year head coach, was the driving force behind his return for a 21st season. The likely future first-ballot Hall of Famer underscored that point earlier this week during a conversation with The Athletic, expressing excitement about experiencing training camp with a third NFL franchise following a tumultuous two-year stint with his second.
After being released by the New York Jets in March, Rodgers, 41, explored the possibility of playing for the Steelers, New York Giants or Minnesota Vikings while also pondering retirement. His deliberations coincided with a period in which several people in his inner circle were stricken by cancer, delaying and complicating the process.
In the end, he was swayed by Tomlin’s patience, empathy and listening (and/or notetaking) skills, signing a below-market, one-year deal with the Steelers in June.
“We didn’t have a friendship from Day 1, but there was a respect level that was definitely mutual that I felt from the first conversation on,” Rodgers said. “He talked about it the other day (in a meeting): Listening is a skill. I was sorting through a lot of stuff in my personal life. I didn’t need to be recruited, but I appreciated the way that he talked to me, and the respect that he had for me that came out every time we talked. And I think he’s a big part of this whole thing.”
The respect was mutual. After parting with his top two quarterbacks from 2024, Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, Tomlin — who has never had a losing season but is coming off his sixth consecutive playoff defeat — believed Rodgers was still capable of helping Pittsburgh level up.
“I don’t see any deterioration in his skill set or his talents, his ability to throw the football, his passion or relationship with the game,” Tomlin said. “He’s been really consistent in his messaging, dating back to the spring. His agenda is and has been winning, and that’s music to my ears. The love affair that he has with his game is equally as attractive to me as his statistics or his resume.”
Rodgers’ lone Super Bowl victory came at the expense of Tomlin’s Steelers 14 years ago — the then-Green Bay Packers quarterback earned Super Bowl XLV MVP honors — and the two men have long appreciated each other’s competitive fire. On Wednesday, Rodgers recalled an amusing interaction from a 2021 game between the Packers and Steelers at Lambeau Field: As Pittsburgh subbed out numerous defenders between plays, Rodgers tried to pull one of his signature moves by calling for a quick snap while there were more than 11 Steelers on the field.
“He called timeout right away,” Rodgers said. “And I looked over — angrily — but also smiling because he was smart enough to do that, because we’ve done that for so long. And he just kind of smiled and nodded to me, like, ‘Nice try, old guy.’ I loved that moment, and it stuck with me.”
Mike Tomlin, left, and Aaron Rodgers have long held a mutual appreciation for each other. (Matt Freed / Associated Press)
After an injury-marred and dysfunctional interlude with the Jets, Rodgers is excited to cap his career with an organization he views as one of the sport’s most stable.
“This place reminds me of Green Bay,” he said. “And I say that with the utmost amount of respect, because there are a few cornerstone franchises in the league, and we all know who those are. And there’s a reason they’ve had sustained excellence over the years. Obviously, they’ve won six Super Bowls here and Green Bay’s won 13 world championships. But there’s a way that they operate that sets them apart, and it’s kind of ingrained in the culture.
“I feel like because there is such a history of excellence that there’s almost an underlying, tacit way of carrying yourself. Some owners, these days, are quick to pull the trigger to make a change. But when you have the right culture, and it’s obvious what to do, the one thing that never changes, and shouldn’t, is the person at the top, leading from the front.”
Tomlin wasn’t that patient. As he waited for Rodgers to sign, the coach began plotting a juiced-up offensive attack designed to maximize the quarterback’s arm talent. The Steelers were uncharacteristically aggressive over the offseason, beginning in March when they sent a second-round pick to the Seattle Seahawks for two-time Pro Bowl receiver DK Metcalf, then signed him to a five-year, $150 million extension.
Rodgers and Metcalf, who are training-camp dorm mates, formed an instant connection, beginning with a private throwing session in Los Angeles months before the quarterback signed with Pittsburgh.
“He saw how cerebral I was about the game and saw how hard I worked,” Metcalf said. “And I think that just gave him an extra nudge to come on over.”
The first Aaron Rodgers-to-DK Metcalf completion of training camp pic.twitter.com/e60ulZhiGP
— Mike DeFabo (@MikeDeFabo) July 24, 2025
In late June, the Steelers acquired Pro Bowl tight end Jonnu Smith as part of a blockbuster trade with the Miami Dolphins.
“You don’t go do business with Aaron Rodgers without equipping him with the talent that highlights his skill set,” Tomlin said.
For his part, Rodgers did the Steelers a solid by taking a bargain-rate deal (one year, $13.65 million) that helped free up salary-cap space. The NFL’s career leader in passer rating almost certainly could have commanded a larger salary, but Rodgers, who got married over the offseason, said he heeded the advice of one of his new in-laws.
“I was taking orders from my (new) sister-in-law, Mia,” Rodgers said, smiling. “She’s 20 and she’s the brains of the family; you just have to ask her.”
He laughed, then continued, “No — but that is partially serious for sure. Every team that I talked to, I said, ‘Listen, if I play, I’m not going to take a ton of money. I’ve made a ton of money. I don’t need the money.’”
What Rodgers craves most of all is a fulfilling final act — in partnership with an established coach he deeply admires. Health will play a major factor. After suffering a season-ending torn Achilles tendon on the Jets’ fourth offensive play of 2023, Rodgers had his share of injury-related challenges last season, battling through knee, ankle and hamstring ailments to start all 17 games. He threw 11 interceptions, tied for the third-highest total of his career, and the Jets struggled through a 5-12 campaign.
That furthered the perception that Rodgers’ best days are behind him, lowering outside expectations for a Steelers team coming off a 10-7 regular season and 28-14 first-round playoff defeat to the Baltimore Ravens. The quarterback is embracing the challenge.
“There are a lot of people talking about other teams, and at this point it’s totally fine,” Rodgers said. “I mean, some of the teams we’ve had that were great over the years in Green Bay were kind of afterthoughts at times. But, you know, I think the way we’re built, we’ve got a chance to be one of those teams in the mix when we get to December, when the weather changes and you’ve got to win some cold-weather games. And I’ve done that in the past over the years.
“A lot of guys are battle-strong and have been through some tough stuff. And with the leadership we’ve got — and with Mike T. — I like our chances.”
(Top photo: Gene J. Puskar / Associated Press)