PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – As he said he’s not ready to decide whether he will play in 2026, or if that would be with the Steelers on the Pat McAfee Show Wednesday, Rodgers did talk about his 2025 season with the Steelers.
“There were a lot of guys that made the year special,” Rodgers said with McAfee on YouTube. “I had never met Mason Rudolph before, Mason is one of my favorite guys I ever played with. He got me through every single day, he’s hilarious. He’s a naturally funny guy. Will Howard, what a great young player, he’s got the right moxie, love working with him.”
Rodgers also said he immediately built a relationship with wide receiver and special teams ace Ben Skowronek. He said Skowronek was the same guy every day and would say what is on his mind, appropriate or not. It made it fun.
He mentioned TJ Watt and Cam Heyward, all the receivers, calling free agent Calvin Austin ‘a sweet kid’ and a ‘special guy to share the field with’.
Spending 14 years with Mike McCarthy in Green Bay, Rodgers called him ‘Big Mike’ as to discern between McCarthy and former coach Mike Tomlin. He said a lot of what was written about his relationship with McCarthy is bull----. They get along great and said a private hour the two shared in 2022 in a sewing room at Lambeau Field before a game when McCarthy was with Dallas was ‘a deeply meaningful moment for both.’
Rodgers won a pair of NFL MVP awards with McCarthy, along with 100 games and Super Bowl XLV against the Steelers in the 2010 season.
“Mike is one of the great guys in the league,” Rodgers said on the Pat McAfee Show on YouTube. “Absolutely an exceptional human being with a huge heart. We had a lot of great years together, a lot of fun. He really cares about the players, but holds them accountable and creates a lot of structure and detail.”
“I love my time with Mike. It’s like a big brother, sometimes you love him, sometimes you are pissed at him.”
The veteran quarterback doesn’t understand the negative around McCarthy’s hiring saying he’s a Yinzer, who grew up blocks from the team’s practice facility. He told McAfee it doesn’t matter how old he is, adding who would you rather lead the Steelers than someone who bleeds Pittsburgh, PA.
“This is a dream job for him,” Rodgers said on the Pat McAfee Show on YouTube. “I told him what an awesome thing, you will have coached three of the iconic franchises. For a guy to come back and to try and lead back to that greatness, I don’t think you can do better at this time in this franchise’s history than bringing in Mike McCarthy.”
“I have a lot of love for him.”
Rodgers said he loves the fan support in Pittsburgh, loves going to Latrobe. He called still having a camp environment ‘awesome’ even in ‘old-school’ dorms. He said Acrisure Stadium, other than the field surface itself, is a great place to play. He loves how the fans go crazy for ‘Renegade’.
There is no timetable for him to decide about his future, and he didn’t say he would only consider playing in Pittsburgh. He’s currently enjoying time with his wife, has talked with McCarthy and Steelers GM Omar Khan.
“There will be conversations to have down the line, but there haven’t been any progressive conversations,” Rodgers said on the Pat McAfee Show. “There hasn’t been a contract placed in front of me. I’m working out and spending time with my better half.”
“There hasn’t been any progression when it comes to (my future).”