Pittsburgh (AP) – Aaron Rogers understands the necessity of moving forward. He is well aware of this.
After four NFL MVP awards, the decision to return for a 21st season in Pittsburgh was not about proving anything to himself or to others, particularly the New York Jets.
The game has given him much: fame, fortune, titles, and long-lasting friendships beyond his playing days. As he prepares for what may be the final seven months of his career—one that could lead to gold jackets and Hall of Fame honors—he aims to find peace while pushing forward.
Not as the head coach of the Steelers, Mike Tomlin stood before a throng of cameras before the conference championship game. In June, Rodgers, 41, presented a strong argument that his upcoming journey in Pittsburgh is about something more profound.
Rodgers remarked on Tuesday, following the first day of Pittsburgh’s mandatory minicamp, “Decisions made by the soul are often very fulfilling. Thus, this was the best choice for my soul.”
This approach aligns with the Steelers’ business strategy, which is why they haven’t pressured Rodgers during the spring. He mentioned grappling with an off-field challenge involving inner battles with cancer and having multiple people in his corner.
Rodgers confirmed that these issues have shown “a little improvement,” paving the way for his integration into a team that has been searching for a quarterback since Ben Roethlisberger retired at the end of the 2021 season.
While Rodgers is not seen as a long-term fix, he believes he still has what it takes to assist a club that hasn’t secured a playoff victory in nearly a decade. The timeline from mid-June to late January is lengthy, and when asked if Pittsburgh could help him overcome the “hump,” he acknowledged it was merely day one, encompassing the typical awkwardness.
Rodgers struggled to “stand” the new helmet he was required to wear after the model he had used for 20 years was banned. He was unfamiliar with the names of the 88 other players on the practice field that day, except for one absent fellow linebacker, TJ Watt, who was negotiating a new contract. He felt lost navigating the locker room.
Nonetheless, it felt somewhat familiar; he has known Steelers quarterback coach Tom Earth since his brief time in Green Bay in 2006. Rodgers enthusiastically recalled a list of individuals with Pittsburgh connections (including former coach Mike McCarthy), noting those connections made a significant impact on his life.
Despite those relationships, it was Tomlin who ultimately convinced Rodgers that Pittsburgh was the right choice.
The two maintained communication for over two months following Rodgers’s semi-undercover visit to the team facility in March, which he described as yielding “some of the best conversations I’ve had in the game.”
“He’s a significant reason why I’m here,” Rodgers stated. “I have faith in him.”
The sentiment is mutual. Unlike last year, when there was a quarterback competition between Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, the atmosphere felt different this time.
Rodgers donned a white No. 8 jersey and a towel draped in front of his black shorts but primarily observed as Mason Rudolph, rookie Will Howard, and Skyler Thompson took the reps.
Past groups, including Wilson and Fields, and later Rudolph (during his initial period), to Mitch Trubisky and Kenny Pickett, never missed practice or OTAs. They certainly aren’t Rodgers.
“I believe any challenges he must navigate and the learning curves will undoubtedly be addressed during the summer break,” Tomlin remarked.
Rodgers, who has been working with recently acquired DK Metcalf, hopes that some of the Steelers’ skill position players can gather in Malibu, California, when minicamp resumes Thursday, reporting back to Rooney Hall on July 23.
If that happens, they’ll likely meet Rodgers’s wife, as he was seen wearing what appeared to be a wedding band in a photo released by the Steelers upon contract signing. Rodgers confirmed on Tuesday that he married “a few months ago,” though he refrained from providing further details.
This announcement reveals many layers to Rodgers beyond the football field; during a 13-minute session with reporters, he addressed various issues from vaccines to politics. However, he had nothing to reveal on Tuesday.
What he emphasized was his firm belief in the reasons for his presence and an optimistic vision for this final chapter of his career rooted in joy.
“It’s hard to consider positive aspects of my life that haven’t been directly or indirectly influenced by this game,” he stated. “So for me, I want to find a way to return my love to the game, enjoy myself, share knowledge with my teammates, and help lead the team.”
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Source: apnews.com