PITTSBURGH — For Aaron Rodgers, persevering with his enjoying profession and signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers was a choice that was “finest for my soul.”
After formally signing his one-year, $13.65 million contract Saturday, the 41-year-old started his twenty first season Tuesday by attending the primary day of necessary minicamp on the Steelers’ follow facility.
“I do not want it for my ego,” the four-time MVP stated in his first public feedback since April. “I do not want it to maintain enjoying. A number of selections that I’ve revamped my profession and life from strictly the ego, even when they prove nicely, are all the time unfulfilling. However the selections produced from the soul are normally fairly fulfilling.
“This was a choice that was finest for my soul and I felt like being right here with coach [Mike Tomlin] and the blokes that bought right here, and the chance right here was the very best for me and I am excited to be right here.”
Although there have been discussions with different groups, together with the New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings, Rodgers stated the Steelers have been the one true possibility for his 2025 season.
“There have been conversations with different organizations, for positive,” he stated. “However once more, the rapport that fell in between me and Mike made it to the place, as I used to be going by way of my private stuff, there wasn’t some other possibility for me. It was right here or not play.”
Greater than 70 days handed between Rodgers’ covert go to to Pittsburgh early in free company and him formally changing into a Steeler. He beforehand stated on “The Pat McAfee Present” that he was delaying his resolution as members of his shut circle handled “tough stuff.”
He stated he signed now as a result of these circumstances have been getting higher.
“I used to be coping with loads of issues in my private life, and a few issues improved somewhat bit the place I felt like I may absolutely be all in right here with the blokes,” stated Rodgers, who added later he bought married throughout the previous couple of months. “Had an awesome dialog with Mike all through the whole course of and Omar [Khan, Steelers GM], nevertheless it’s good to get that performed and get behind us.”
Rodgers reiterated that Tomlin was the first draw for him, and the pair remained involved all through his extended decision-making course of.
“It begins with Mike Tomlin,” Rodgers stated. “I have been a fan of his for a very long time. There’s just a few iconic franchises within the NFL. I performed for one in all ’em for 18 years. That is one other a type of. There’s one thing particular about clearly this space. So many nice quarterbacks are from Pittsburgh. I really feel like Pittsburgh has been part of my profession from the start.”
Rodgers arrived on the workforce facility at 7:19 a.m, and was greeted by a fan who was fast to inform him that the quarterback broke his coronary heart when the Inexperienced Bay Packers beat the Steelers in Tremendous Bowl XLV. On the workforce assembly an hour later, Rodgers instructed the workforce he was “all in,” heart Zach Frazier stated. Through the afternoon follow, Rodgers watched the entire workforce intervals and went fourth throughout the person quarterback reps behind Mason Rudolph, Skylar Thompson and rookie sixth-round choose Will Howard. That was by design as Rodgers will get on top of things.
“I will be actually simple with you,” Tomlin stated, explaining the choice. “June reps are a heck of much more vital for a man like Will Howard at this stage of his profession than the man who’s been doing it for 20 years. And so no matter snaps he will get you are taking away from a man like Will Howard, and we’re making an attempt to get this collective prepared for coaching camp.”
Although Rodgers has been a pacesetter in his different two stops, he demurred when requested if he would tackle the same function throughout the Steelers’ offense.
“I simply wish to be a servant chief right here and simply move on the information that I’ve had for 20 years, the expertise and simply try to slot in with the blokes, get to know ’em, allow them to get to know me and simply benefit from the course of,” he stated. “That is — all the things’s new. It is like the primary day of faculty. I do not know loads of guys’ names. They do not have names on the again of the jerseys right here. They do not have names on the doorways within the assembly rooms. I actually stroll out of the locker room, misplaced, try to seize anyone, ‘Hey, the place am I going?’ However I am going to get the texture of it and I am enthusiastic about making this house.”
