Inside the Steelers Locker Room: What Teammates Really Say About the Veteran QB
Veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been portrayed negatively by the media, especially in recent years. He’s developed a reputation as a complex guy, both on and off the field. His Steelers teammates challenged the media’s portrayal of him. They opened up about what he’s really like.
Ben Skowronek made an appearance on NFL insider Jordan Schultz’s podcast, which was posted on Christmas Eve. He spoke about what surprised him about Rodgers when the quarterback joined the team. He said, “I didn’t anticipate him being as down-to-earth as he is. He is just a kid at heart who loves football. He loves to practice, he loves to play, he loves the preparation aspect of it, and he loves his teammate. He’s asking about my family, he’s asking about my wife.”
Skowronek added, “He’s just a normal person, man, who happens to be the best thrower of the football of all time. I watched him growing up, and now he’s one of my best friends, so that’s pretty cool.” Skowronek enjoys playing video games with Rodgers. He revealed, “He really likes Mario Kart. He’s not that good at it. I’ve been whooping his ass lately.”
Cam Heyward was on ESPN’s SportsCenter after the Steelers’ Week 15 victory over the Miami Dolphins. He discussed how Rodgers brings accountability to the team. He explained, “I think there’s a level of accountability he brings to the group. The way he challenges guys, the way he communicates. There’s a lot of stuff that you see during practice, but then off the field, he is working with guys, making sure that it’s not just the offensive line, it’s the wide receivers, the tight ends…They all play a big role in what he wants to do, and he just keeps talking about it.”
Payton Wilson was interviewed on ESPN Radio on September 10th. He said that the media’s negative narrative of Rodgers is inaccurate. Wilson elaborated, “He has been great since the day he got here. Obviously, when he got here, you see stuff in the media. You don’t know the guy. But the second that you meet him, you realize all that stuff is fake. He’s a great leader; He is a great guy.”
After practice on August 19th, Jalen Ramsey talked about the interactions he had with the quarterback. He said, “See how he operates on the field during practices…At times, you wouldn’t expect that from a quarterback. You know, they can kind of be locked in into their own little zone, but you know, he does make sure that he’s connected with all the guys. So, that’s something that I’ve grown to learn and respect about him.” Ramsey discredited the media’s exaggerated portrayal of Rodgers’ personality. He commented, “I think at times it kind of gets overblown. I think it’s more like a media thing, no disrespect. It’s more of a thing for y’all than it is for us in the locker rooms.”
Although this is his first season in Pittsburgh, Rodgers has already made a positive impact and formed strong bonds with his teammates. He also speaks highly of the Steelers. After signing with the team in June, he appeared on The Pat McAfee Show. Rodgers announced that this could be his final season in the NFL. Rodgers remarked, “I played 20 fricking years. It’s been a long run. I’ve enjoyed it, and no better place to finish than in one of the cornerstone franchises of the NFL with Mike Tomlin and a great group of leadership and great guys in the city that expects you to win.”
