Aaron Rodgers
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Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy offered positive insight into the team's pursuit of quarterback Aaron Rodgers this offseason.
The wait for Aaron Rodgers continues for the Pittsburgh Steelers. With each passing day, there appears to be more negative updates or reaction to the team’s sole offseason focus to re-sign Rodgers.
To begin this week, though, new Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy offered positive developments on the team’s desire to re-sign Rodgers.
McCarthy shared with multiple outlets Monday that he speaks to the quarterback regularly. The head coach also indicated his relationship with Rodgers is as strong as it has ever been.
“I would just say he’s in a very positive space,” McCarthy said of Rodgers according to Steelers.com. “We’ll just continue to engage in conversations. We’ve been talking weekly, every couple of days, so we’ll just continue to do that.
“The personal part of it will always be the same. Football guys, they talk about the past. We talked about plays in 2010. We’re talking a lot of football, his experience in Pittsburgh. We talk a lot about football and just where he is in his life right now.”
McCarthy echoed that sentiment on The Pat McAfee Show on Wednesday.
“I’ve talked to Aaron (Rodgers) regularly and will continue to do so,” McCarthy told McAfee. “We’re just working through it. When it’s time to fully address it, we will.
“You know, it’s a process that he’s going through, and I’m comfortable with it. We’ve had very, very positive conversations on a weekly basis.”
Steelers’ Mike McCarthy Stresses Aaron Rodgers Engagement
In summary, there were two big takeaways from McCarthy’s latest comments on Rodgers — the frequency in which they talk and the variety of topics they discuss.
Rodgers shared on The Pat McAfee Show last year that he was married. His wife has yet to appear publicly, but based on McCarthy’s comments on Rodgers, the two may discuss his marriage.
There’s plenty of football talk as well, including what’s the latest happenings with the Steelers.
“Just like they always are, life, football, so what’s going on at the facility,” said McCarthy of his conversations with Rodgers. “Really engaged into what’s going on.”
McCarthy’s relationship with Rodgers dates back to the quarterback’s second NFL season. The Green Bay Packers drafted Rodgers in the first round of 2005. McCarthy became the team’s head coach in 2006.
McCarthy coached Rodgers for all 13 seasons he spent in Green Bay. The pair posted a 100-57-1 record and won the Super Bowl during the 2010 season. Rodgers also won two league MVP awards.
McCarthy Shares What He Admires About Rodgers
In the interview with Steelers.com, McCarthy continued to pull the curtain behind some of his conversations with Rodgers.
McCarthy called the quarterback “well read,” a “very curious individual” and prideful person.
“What I admire about him is his passion for … some people talk about how his ability to jump down any rabbit hole,” said McCarthy. “His outlook on life I’ve always been impressed with, even at a young age.
“His curiosity is where I’m going with this. Whether it’s homeopathic medicine or what’s going on in outer space. He has depths probably as diverse and as deep as not only anyone I’ve ever coached, but I’ve ever worked with.”
A lot of fans just want to know whether Rodgers will play in 2026. But for others, they’d like to learn more about the quarterback’s personal life, including details about his marriage.
Because of Rodgers’s desire for privacy, they are unlikely to learn more about that.
But that’s what makes McCarthy’s comments so meaningful. They are the closest fans might get to learning about Rodgers the person.
McCarthy’s personal relationship with Rodgers will likely only help the team bring back the future Hall of Fame quarterback for 2026.