Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was quick to dismiss a claim made by NBC NFL commentator Cris Collinsworth during a Sunday Night Football game
15:35 ET, 13 Nov 2025Updated 15:35 ET, 13 Nov 2025
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers walks off the field
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Aaron Rodgers is playing in his 21st NFL season this year(Image: Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
Aaron Rodgers confidently denied a claim made by NBC NFL analyst Cris Collinsworth on last week’s 'Sunday Night Football' broadcast of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
During a brief segment that featured Steelers tight end Darnell Washington, Collinsworth suggested that Rodgers prevented Washington from moving to a position on the offensive line, stating, “I don’t think Aaron let it happen.”
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Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, the Steelers quarterback definitively said “that’s not his recollection” when asked about Collinsworth’s comment, according to ESPN NFL reporter Brooke Pryor and shutting down the NBC announcers' theory.
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Washington, who is listed at 6-foot-7 and 264 pounds on the Steelers’ official website, has been rumored to change positions due to his burly build, which reflects that of an offensive lineman more than a pass catcher.
Rodgers has connected with his third-year tight end 14 times for 142 yards and a touchdown this season, including once for 15 yards in Pittsburgh's 25-10 loss to the Chargers on Sunday night.
Washington is on track to set new career highs in receptions and receiving yards this year.
Across his first two professional seasons, the Georgia product logged a total of 26 catches for 261 yards and a touchdown.
Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Darnell Washington runs a route
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Darnell Washington was selected in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the Steelers(Image: Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
At his current pace, Washington will finish 2025 with 26 receptions and 268 receiving yards. Of course, this is his first season with a future Hall of Famer as his quarterback.
Speaking to reporters before the start of the season, Rodgers recalled “conversations” about whether Washington was playing the right position.
“I can’t even say who’s the most impressive, maybe [Washington] because of how many things he can do downfield in the passing game,” Rodgers said.
NBC NFL analyst Cris Collinsworth on the field before a game
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Cris Collinsworth joined NBC's 'Sunday Night Football' broadcast team in 2009(Image: Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images)
"There was a lot of conversation about, is he in the right position?
"The other day we had a practice… I threw him a bunch of balls in the red zone and I was thinking to myself, he’s definitely in the right position. He’s so big and so athletic for a man of that size."
So, even if Rodgers says never halted the Steelers coaching staff from moving Washington to the offensive line, he did acknowledge that it was at one point a possibility.
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It may not happen as long as Rodgers is under center in Pittsburgh, but the 41-year-old won’t be around forever, much less next season.
In fact, Washington called himself an “open-minded dude” and said he is open to a position change later in his career.
“Later on down the road or any time in the road, if they ask for me to do that, I’m gonna still do it to my best ability. I’m gonna do it,” Washington said during training camp, per Yahoo Sports.