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Pittsburgh was the longtime home of PBS children’s show host Fred “Mister” Rogers.
His gentle voice and calm demeanor in his “Mr. Rogers Neighborhood” television show became a regular in our home during our two sons’ pre-school years.
Parents felt like they could trust Mister Rogers. His thoughtful and creative half-hour daily program projected a genuine care and personal regard for his younger viewers.
Fred McFeely Rogers passed away in 2003 at the relatively young age of 74 from stomach cancer.
Last Friday, another Mr. Rodgers arrived in Pittsburgh
Former Green Bay Packers Super Bowl winning quarterback Aaron Rodgers is now 41 years old. He was voted the NFL’s Most Valuable Player by the Associated Press a whopping four times (2011, 2014, 2020, and 2021).
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers holds numerous NFL records and is a cinch to be voted into the NFL Hall-of-Fame in Canton, Ohio following his football retirement.
Aaron Rodgers still isn’t ready to hang up his cleats just yet.
He was pushed out of the starting quarterback position in Green Bay two years ago at age 39 in favor of former Utah State standout Jordan Love.
Rodgers surprised many by agreeing to be traded for the final two years of his contract to play for the AFC’s lowly New York Jets beginning in 2023. His first season in New York ended in Game #1 in a nationally televised Monday Night Football game with a season-ending Achilles tendon rupture.
Aaron Rodgers still didn’t retire after that injury, though.
The veteran quarterback came back last season in 2024 and recorded a more “Aaron Rodgers-like” season of positive stats – even with a very bad offensive football team.
Rodgers passed for nearly 3,900 yards with 27 touchdowns and 11 interceptions for the 5-12 New York Jets.
The J-E-T-S last playoff appearance came in January, 2010 (15 years and counting).
The Jets fired last year’s coach and hired former defensive back Aaron Glenn in late January. Aaron Rodgers (whose contract in New York had just ended) was told by the incoming head coach that his services were no longer needed.
Enter – the Pittsburgh Steelers
Likely Hall-of-Fame quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was a fixture in Pittsburgh from 2004 through his retirement after the 2021 NFL season.
The Steelers have struggled to find an effective leader at the quarterback position ever since.
Former first round draft selection Kenny Pickett was thrown to the wolves to become the starting quarterback during his rookie season in 2022.
Pickett posted 7-5 marks as the team’s starter in both 2022 and 2023.
He was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles after just two years with the AFC’s Black and Gold team.
Ironically, Kenny Pickett just won a Super Bowl ring as the back-up quarterback with last year’s Super Bowl champs in Philadelphia.
Mitch Trubisky started seven games for Pittsburgh in 2022/2023. Mason Rudolph was the team’s starter in five games played over the same period.
Both were sent packing after the 2023 season.
The Pittsburgh Steelers then signed veteran Russell Wilson from the Denver Broncos and Justin Fields from the Chicago Bears to fight for the quarterback job in 2024.
A 10-7 regular season ended with a big thud in a 28-14 playoff loss at Baltimore.
Russell Wilson jumped ship and signed a new one-year deal with the New York Giants. Justin Fields also left town after signing a two-year $40 million contract with the (how ironic) New York Jets.
The Pittsburgh Steelers contacted Aaron Rodgers (who turns 42 this December) and made him an offer.
Rodgers then tormented Steelers fans by waiting for a few months trying to make up his mind on whether to retire or play football this fall in Steel City.
The Steelers didn’t help the anxiety levels of local fans by waiting until the 6th round of this spring’s NFL draft to select Ohio State quarterback Will Howard. The team recently brought back former back-up QB Mason Rudolph in the event Aaron Rodgers failed to sign with the Steelers.
Aaron Rodgers finally signed a one-year $13.65 million contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers last Friday.
Rodgers’ new salary is a bargain for the Steelers – at least compared to the last three seasons.
The quarterback signed a three year contract with Green Bay in 2022 which paid him $50 million per year. He became (at the time) the highest paid player in NFL history.
The New York Jets had to honor (and pay for) the final two years of that contract to obtain Rodgers’ services.
The good – Aaron Rodgers is still a very talented quarterback
Pittsburgh gets an aging but highly accurate passer with the quickest release in the NFL. Aaron Rodgers played quite well for most of last season for the New York Jets despite the team’s 5-12 record.
Rodgers will become a very talented mentor for rookie quarterback Will Howard and veteran Mason Rudolf.
Aaron Rodgers still has a quick release and enough arm strength to improve the Pittsburgh Steelers woeful passing game.
The Steelers recently added former Seattle wide receiver D.K. Metcalf but traded talented (and petulant) wide receiver George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys. Pittsburgh fan favorite tight end Pat Freiermuth is expected to see even more passes coming his way with Aaron Rodgers on the field this fall.
Rodgers could use at least one more veteran wide receiver with a proven resume if the Steelers are going to become legitimate AFC title contenders this fall.
Team General Manager Omar Khan (definitely not a crowd favorite in Pittsburgh) failed to select a young wide receiver during April’s NFL draft. He recently signed 33-year old Houston Texans’ cast-off WR Robert Woods to provide more depth at the position.
Fans in Pittsburgh hope their favorite team will sign a higher profile wide receiver prior to the start of the 2025 football season.
Aaron Rodgers has earned a few hundred million dollars playing NFL football.
He was generously given back to some of his favorite causes. Rodgers was conferred with an honorary doctorate by the University of California-Berkeley in 2018 for his ongoing charitable works with the school and on behalf of other local causes.
The bad – Aaron Rodgers often comes across as a flaky personality
Let’s establish that Aaron Rodgers is very sharp.
The former University of California-Berkeley student scored a 35 out of 40 on the Wonderlic test prior to being drafted in the 2005 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers. That equates to the 96th percentile and significantly higher than the NFL’s average score of 20.
Aaron Rodgers loves the TV game show “Jeopardy”.
He even hosted the program for two weeks during 2021. Rodgers auditioned to become the new host after Alex Trebek died of cancer in 2020.
Two years ago found Aaron Rodgers famously entering a “darkness retreat.” He spent four nights isolated in a soundproof unit with few amenities as he searched his soul deciding whether to retire from pro football.
Aaron Rodgers emerged from his isolation chamber like Punxatawny Phil on Groundhog Day and announced his intention to continue playing football for another few years.
He was later traded by Green Bay to the New York Jets.
The tabloids have also highlighted Rodgers’ flirtation with psychedelic substances.
Others have reported that Rodgers has dated a young woman who claimed she was a witch.
The ugly – Aaron Rodgers has a long history of injuries
Every NFL player will deal with injuries over time.
Football is a collision sport.
Veteran NFL quarterbacks like Aaron Rodgers are often hit very hard by oncoming tacklers in every game.
Twenty-one years of NFL experience has provided Rogers with several concussions, a foot fracture, a broken thumb, shoulder injuries, his 2023 Achilles injury, and countless other painful injuries from playing the sport.
Tom Brady played quarterback in the NFL for 23 seasons. He (like Aaron Rodgers) was known for his extremely quick release of the football – especially near the end of his career.
The odds favor the 41-year old Aaron Rodgers getting hurt at some point this season in Pittsburgh. The Steelers’ offensive line must do a great job to keep their QB protected.
Steelers fans will either love or loathe Aaron Rodgers
The blue collar fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers were not pleased that Aaron Rodgers kept the team waiting for months prior to signing with the beloved Black and Gold.
The majority preferred that the team move on without Rodgers and his penchant for selfish personal theatrics.
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers has the talent to ignite the Steelers offense if he can just stay upright and healthy this fall.
Thousands of Terrible Towel-waving Steelers fans will be overjoyed if the old Aaron Rodgers is able to make the Pittsburgh’s offense come alive once again starting in September.
Here we go!!!
Everyone sing along…You know the tune!
“The AFC North is my new Neighborhood
For the Terrible Towel waving Steelers.
Won’t you cheer me?
Just don’t throw beer on me!
I’m your 41-year old new quarterback
Who’s too brittle to withstand another sack!
Where do I sign?
$13 Million will be just fine!
I have always wanted to play in the Steel City – for you
Since none of the other NFL teams – came through!
So…
Keep me upright and protected each game
Or I’ll blame the offensive line just the same…
Won’t you please…
Cheer for me, please!
Please don’t you boo…your QB!”