Aaron Rodgers is a controversial figure, with opinions split on him. While he’s one of the best quarterbacks ever, he’s also not afraid to speak his mind. That’s caused some people to get frustrated with him. However, most of Rodgers’ teammates have nothing but good things to say about him. Steelers cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. told a fun story about how Rodgers challenged him to get an interception in order to get a jersey from the four-time NFL MVP.
“He’s cool, down to earth,” Samuel said Thursday on the Closed on Sundays podcast. “He even gave me a jersey. Right before the Miami game, we were in practice a couple days before, I’m like, ‘Let me get a jersey.’ He’s like, ‘You catch a pick, I got you.’ I caught a pick, so I went to the sideline, I’m looking for him. I need that. Aaron Rodgers jersey? I need that. I respect him. He’s a team player.”
Samuel signed with the Steelers’ practice squad in November, and he didn’t join their active roster until December. Samuel only recorded one interception with the Steelers last year, and it came in Week 15 against the Miami Dolphins. That was his first start with the Steelers, and Rodgers gave him a little extra motivation to play well.
It didn’t take long for Samuel to accomplish his goal, either. He picked off quarterback Tua Tagovailoa on the Dolphins’ second drive. While the Steelers didn’t record any points off that turnover, it set the tone for what would be a dominant night for them.
This is just another example of how Rodgers is different than he’s portrayed. Multiple other Steelers have talked about how much they appreciated Rodgers and how his veteran presence was important for the locker room.
Samuel and Rodgers are both set to be free agents, and it’s unclear if they’ll return to Pittsburgh. The team hasn’t been shy about its desire for Rodgers to re-sign, but he could decide to retire. Omar Khan also said that the Steelers would like to bring Samuel back. While that doesn’t mean both players are certain to return, it sounds like Samuel and Rodgers could continue being teammates.
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