Aaron Rodgers reveals first impressions after joining Steelers, building relationships

Aaron Rodgers is less than three weeks into his tenure with the Pittsburgh Steelers. There’s a lot of work to be done, and a lot of names to be learned ahead of Week 1 against the New York Jets on Sept. 7.

Mandatory minicamp earlier this month was the first step in the process. Rodgers told Pat McAfee on Tuesday that he enjoyed his three days around his new teammates and coaches and even spent time at head coach Mike Tomlin and defensive lineman Cam Heyward‘s houses.

“I’ve really enjoyed being in Pittsburgh..

I had a good time at minicamp with all of the guys” @AaronRodgers12 #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/bHtrxBiQNH

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) June 24, 2025

“It’s been great, man. I really enjoyed it,” Rodgers said. “Had a great three days out there for minicamp with the boys, did some individual work, but mostly just kind of watched on the side and talked to Arthur [Smith] and Tom Arth. I had a good time, man, it’s fun. I was doing a bunch of events out there. So, I got out there, went to Tomlin’s house for a barbecue, went to Cam Heyward’s house for a barbecue, did Cam’s golf event on the Monday. Had a good time.

“So just to meet the guys, get to know the guys — it’s strange that there’s no names on the back of the jerseys, so it’s all facial recognition. But I’m pretty damn real with names, but it would help if there was, like, a name on the back you could, you know, lock that in with some of the guys you haven’t quite fully got to talk to yet.”

Rodgers, 41, is the oldest player in the NFL. Obviously, there’s 20 years of knowledge he can impart on his teammates. But this Pittsburgh team is filled with veterans including Heyward, TJ Watt and Minkah Fitzpatrick among others.

Those are just the obvious names. Rodgers already sees others stepping into that role ahead of the 2025 season.

“There’s a lot of great leaders in the team,” Rodgers said. “Just talking to Minkah, I mean, what a high football IQ that guy has. It’s been really interesting just to watch him practice. And then to have to pick his brain in the locker room. There’s a lot of great — Pat Queen, you know, I played against him a few times. He’s a dog.

“But there’s some guys you don’t know about that I think you’re going to start hearing about as we get past this time in the sports world and get into training camp and football season is around the corner. There’s some real good young players that got a chance to make a name for themselves this year.”

Aaron Rodgers on 2025 season with Steelers: ‘Pretty sure this is it’

Rodgers has the opportunity to prove he can still perform while quarterbacking one of the league’s most historic franchises. Pittsburgh hopes he’s the missing piece to winning its first playoff game since 2016. Both sides needed each other, but it appears it’s only a one-year marriage. “Pretty sure this is it,” Rodgers said on McAfee’s show.

“Yeah, I’m pretty sure this is it,” Rodgers said. “You know, that’s why we just did a one-year deal. The Steelers didn’t need to, you know, put any extra years on that or anything. So, you know, this was really about finishing with a lot of love and fun and peace for the career that I’ve had.

“I mean, I played 20 freaking years. It’s been long, a long run, and I’ve enjoyed it. And what better place to finish than in one of the cornerstone franchises of the NFL, with Mike Tomlin and great group of leadership and great guys in the city that you know expects, expects you to win.”