![\"Packers](\"https:\/\/www.jsonline.com\/gcdn\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2025\/05\/16\/PMJS\/83680482007-gan-20220918-jab-dp-263.JPG?crop=2419,2415,x370,y2\")
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Aaron Rodgers\u00a0is still not a Pittsburgh Steeler.<\/p>\n
But Rodgers’ former head coach in Green Bay fully expects him to be very soon.<\/p>\n
“I certainly see that coming to fruition here, pretty shortly,”\u00a0Packers\u00a0head coach Matt LaFleur said at the end of his nearly 35-minute conversation with NBC Sports’ Chris Simms May 15 on the “Chris Simms Unbuttoned” podcast.<\/p>\n
Rodgers continues to be a free agent after\u00a0the New York Jets released him following two seasons. But the\u00a0Steelers\u00a0are a favorite to land Rodgers if he decides to play again.<\/p>\n
The four-time NFL MVP last said on “The Pat McAfee Show” in April\u00a0that he’s “open to anything and attached to nothing” while keeping the lines of communication open with the Steelers, a team he met with in late March.<\/p>\n
The NFL clearly believes that Rodgers, too, will be in Pittsburgh. While a Green Bay vs. Pittsburgh game can certainly stand on its own as two of the most storied franchises,\u00a0the NFL put the matchup on “Sunday Night Football” in Week 8\u00a0on Oct. 26 clearly expecting, or at least hoping, Rodgers is there and playing against his old team.<\/p>\n
Simms asked LaFleur for his reaction if Rodgers signs with the Steelers.<\/p>\n
“Well, I\u2019m anticipating that happening,” LaFleur said. “So, I won\u2019t be surprised.”<\/p>\n
Why is LaFleur so confident that Rodgers will be continuing his Hall of Fame career?<\/p>\n
“I just can\u2019t see him not playing the game of football this year,” LaFleur said.<\/p>\n
Rodgers’ tenure with the\u00a0Jets\u00a0never lived up to the hype after he departed Green Bay in 2023.\u00a0A torn Achilles in the first game of the 2023 season ended his year\u00a0and the Jets’ hopes. Then, in 2024, despite Rodgers back under center for the whole year,\u00a0the team was a disaster and finished 5-12.<\/p>\n
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LaFleur said Rodgers playing for the Steelers “obviously makes the most sense.”<\/p>\n
The team is in need of an established quarterback to go with its top-of-the-line defense. Plus, LaFleur noted Rodgers has respect for the Steelers’ longtime head coach Mike Tomlin.<\/p>\n
Rodgers last publicly commented on his future about a month ago on “The Pat McAfee Show” and said he wasn’t in a position to sign on for a 21st season.<\/p>\n
“I\u2019m in a different phase of my life,” Rodgers said. “I\u2019m 41 years old.\u00a0I\u2019m in a serious relationship.\u00a0I have off-the-field stuff going on that requires my attention. I have personal commitments I\u2019ve made not knowing what my future holds. I have a couple people in my inner, inner circle that are really battling some difficult stuff. So I have a lot of things that are taking my attention away from football and that\u2019s been where I\u2019ve been focusing most of my attention on. To make a commitment to a team is a big thing.”<\/p>\n
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LaFleur coached Rodgers for four seasons (2019-22) and the partnership was a success. Coming off a 6-9-1 season the year before, the Packers went to the NFC Championship Game in consecutive years in 2019 and 2020 and then had the NFC’s top record in 2021.\u00a0Rodgers won league MVP honors in 2020\u00a0and\u00a02021.<\/p>\n
Asked what he learned from Rodgers, LaFleur said: “You learn so much going through it together. You can\u2019t discount a guy of his talent, his experiences and just the way he thinks about the game. There\u2019s been a lot of things that, quite honestly, that he\u2019s helped shape some of my beliefs in terms of how I look at offensive football as well.”<\/p>\n
Rodgers has often talked glowingly about his time with LaFleur.<\/p>\n
“I thought it was a great partnership,” LaFleur said. “Certainly, there were some moments of struggle but in anything when you have people who are convicted about what they are doing and are passionate and care it\u2019s usually for the betterment of the team. And we kind of helped each other in that regard.”<\/p>\n
If Rodgers does sign with the Steelers and plays against the Packers this season, will LaFleur have to change signals?<\/p>\n
LaFleur said Rodgers is as smart as they come so he would have to be ready for anything.<\/p>\n
“You have to be careful communicating because he picks up everything,” LaFleur said. “I haven\u2019t been around too many guys who can focus (like him). I swear he can focus on three things at once and take it all in. It\u2019s pretty impressive when you watch it.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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