Mike McCarthy reacts to Aaron Rodgers' Steelers debut: 'It's just amazing'

Aaron Rodgers still has his fastball. On Sunday, the 41-year-old quarterback made his debut for the Pittsburgh Steelers, leading the team to a 34-32 win over the New York Jets. During an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, Rodgers’ former head coach, Mike McCarthy, raved about the four-time MVP’s performance.

“I think it went just like his whole career has gone — touchdowns versus interceptions. I mean, it’s just amazing, his discipline and decision-making,” McCarthy said. “I thought he looked very comfortable. I thought he just played to the tempo of the offense.

“The only negative was the sacks. But, he just has to get a feel for those guys because, as I touched on earlier, the A and B gap release in the pass game, that’s a huge strength of his. But yeah, I thought those guys definitely looked on the same page, and he looked really comfortable in the offense.”

In the win, Rodgers completed 22-of-his-30 pass attempts for 244 yards and four touchdowns, without throwing an interception. He suffered four sacks, but ultimately led the Steelers to a nail-biting victory.

The win meant more to Rodgers than the average game. Before signing with the Steelers this offseason, Rodgers had spent the previous two years with the Jets. In his Jets debut in 2023, Rodgers tore his Achilles tendon and was out for the remainder of the season.

After working hard to bounce back from the injury, Rodgers had a tumultuous 2024 campaign, with Jets head coach Robert Saleh being fired just five weeks into the season. The Jets finished the season with a 5-12 record.

Despite the team’s lackluster record, Rodgers posted 3,897 passing yards and 27 touchdowns, while only throwing 12 interceptions. The Jets released Rodgers in March and he signed with the Steelers in June.

During an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show that month, Rodgers insinuated this season would likely be his last. Evidently, the legendary QB is looking to go out on a high note.

“I love these guys,” Rodgers told CBS Sports after the win on Sunday. “I love the organization, love them taking a chance on bringing me in and believing in me and giving me the opportunity to be out here with my guys. There’s no greater feeling than being out on the field and being able to compete. That’s what I was thinking about all those days in the offseason, was opportunities like this. Now, I didn’t think it would be against my former team, but really proud of my guys making clutch plays down the stretch.”