PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – “Hell ya, bring his (butt) here!”
What Aaron Rodgers Jets teammate and now a Steelers corner Brandin Echols said of Rodgers joining him in Pittsburgh.
Having just been signed, Echols was meeting with reporters on the South Side and after a few questions about his career and opportunity with his new team, he was asked about his quarterback in 2024.
What he said about Rodgers may not be what you think he is like.
“When he first got there, I really couldn’t feel him out,” Echols explained on Thursday. “But after a while we kind of gravitated towards each other. In practices he started to attack me (during reps in practices), but it was for the betterment of me. I would say having him around, it did make me a better football player.”
Echols said he’s a quieter, more laid-back guy and it takes him a little time to get a feel for everybody. He said Rodgers initiated conversation and made a few jokes. After that point, the two would talk regularly. Rodgers would even joke about his different hair styles, telling teammates that if Echols hair was on the right side, he’s mad. If it’s on the left side, he’s happy and if it’s in the middle, you don’t know what you might get. He said all of this with a smile as he was thinking fondly of those interactions.
It was a rough year for both, the Jets fired their head coach just five games into the season and finished 5-12. What Echols saw from Rodgers was a player working back from an Achilles injury who continued to improve.
“I think he played good, especially towards the end of the season,” Echols said. “I wish the outcome was a little better, but towards the end of the season, he started to really wake up.”
He didn’t know if they will be teammates again in 2025, but paints a picture that is a little different than most would expect.