Aaron Rodgers is revealing the reasons he opted to sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers, where the four-time MVP will make it one-and-done at the age of 41, hopefully for Steelers fans going out in a most glorious way.
But before we get there ...
On Tuesday during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show. Rodgers not only revealed that this will be his final season and that he will end his career in Pittsburgh. He also suggested one of the driving forces for his decision to come here on his way to Canton and the Hall of Fame is another new member of the roster.
And he explained it in a way that can be wrapped up in a seven-word summary.
D.K. Metcalf, Rodgers said, "is a big reason I'm in Pittsburgh.''
Camaraderie between the two newcomers? Nice.
It has come in part as a result of the two having spent a portion of this offseason working out together in California. And Aaron loves what he's learned about the 6-4, 230-pound physical freak.
"D.K. is a lead-by-example guy," Rodgers said. "He's a big reason I'm in Pittsburgh has well. Conversations that we had, and just the kind of person that he is.''
Chemistry matters when it comes to QBs and their No. 1 wideouts. And it seems we are there with these two.
"At the start of the year, I didn't really know D.K. at all,'' Rodgers relayed. "He's like, 'I work out at 6 a.m. every day.' I'm like, 'OK, this guy has discipline, this guy has a drive..."
The Seahawks traded Metcalf to the Steelers this offseason essentially at his request, sending the two-time Pro-Bowl receiver here in exchange basically for a second-round pick. D.K. got a new contract in the deal (a four-year, $132 million extension) as he tries to build on what he accomplished in Seattle, where he went over the 1,000-yard mark three times in six seasons, was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2020 and 2023, and earned second-team All-Pro honors in 2020.
Last year, he totaled a rather modest 66 catches for 992 yards and five touchdowns in 2024. Those numbers are likely to change here, based on Rodgers' review.
"He is a solid dude, and he leads by example. The way he practices. The room goes how the top dog goes, and when D.K. catches the ball and finishes 60 yards to the end zone, it makes everyone else want to do the same thing."