CLEVELAND, Ohio — It’s not often you hear elite NFL quarterbacks publicly acknowledge their physical limitations, but that’s exactly what Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers did during his Wednesday press conference.
The Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback offered a refreshingly candid assessment of his performance in the Week 1 win over the New York Jets, focusing specifically on a mobility issue that impacted his game.
“I don’t think I was moving that well,” Rodgers admitted without hesitation. “So, I think I ran kind of into at least one or two sacks. I got to do a better job of using my legs.”
Rodgers completed 73.3% of his passes for 244 yards and four scores in that Week 1 win over the New York Jets, his former team of the last two seasons.
In one game, he threw for one-seventh of his total touchdowns in all of 2024 (28).
But Rodgers’ brutal honesty stands out, as he turned the spotlight on himself rather than his offensive line when asked about the pass protection.
“I wasn’t moving uh the way I usually like to move,“ Rodgers said. ”I thought the protection was good for most of the game...I just got to get the ball out.”
Rodgers’ self-awareness continued with a statement that balanced confidence with reality.
“You know, I might be old, but I still feel like I can move around pretty good. And I wasn’t moving the way I usually like to move,” Rodgers said.
The 40-year-old quarterback’s admission provides a fascinating window into the mindset of a veteran player managing the inevitable physical changes that come with age.
Rodgers later elaborated on his recovery process.
“I made sure I got in cold tub and got massaged Monday, Tuesday, which is pretty standard,” Rodgers said. “Every time you go to a new city, you got to either bring somebody with you or find somebody who can work on you that you trust. So, I figured that whole process out.”
Rodgers’ four touchdowns moves him up to 507 career touchdowns, currently sitting fifth on the all-time list. One more would tie him with Brett Farve (508), and two more would bump Rodgers to fourth all time.
But it’s not the biggest deal to him.
“It’s just a longevity achievement,” Rodgers said. “Some touchdowns you make exceptional plays. There’s been a lot of guys involved in that, including the guys blocking, the guys calling plays...I’ve been playing a long time and it’s a longevity thing that I’m proud of, but not a big deal.”
If anything, Rodgers’ comments further reiterates his focus on making his farewell season, one to remember.
“We got 16 plus more of these. So, I’m going to get in that rhythm,” Rodgers said.
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