Steelers’ Aaron Rodgers Takes Not-So-Subtle Shot At Jets While Giving Inspiring Praise To Mike Tomlin

The Pittsburgh Steelers are AFC North champions after defeating the Baltimore Ravens 26-24 in one of the most exciting games of the entire regular season. Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers seemed to turn the clock back and give a performance reminiscent of his vintage self. He threw for 294 yards and a touchdown, with that touchdown coming at a critical moment that gave the Steelers a lead that they would never relinquish. Rodgers is returning to the playoffs for the first time since the 2021 season, and hopefully, we'll be seeing more of the vintage veteran QB, starting with the Houston Texans on Monday night.

It's safe to say that Rodgers is enjoying his time with the Steelers far more than his time anywhere else since 2022 -- his first year with the New York Jets. Rodgers added some emphasis to this statement with his recent comments to the media where he praised Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin for how he's able to keep control of the locker room and maintain cohesion throughout the entire team. Rodgers's comments on Tomlin recently showed just how highly he values him as a coach, and shows how much more Rodgers loves it in Pittsburgh compared to New York. In particular, Rodgers takes an indirect shot at the Jets in his latest comments, showing the difference between where he was and where he is now.

"One thing I really love, and it's kind of the antithesis of where I was, is there aren't any leaks in the boat," Rodgers said. "Every year, you have difficulties, adversity, both on the field and off the field, and to go through a season like this and be able to focus on football and not have a lot of other little bulls**t out there has been really nice."

Rodgers' comments regarding how Tomlin has been able to keep the team together hold a lot of weight from the veteran. After the Steelers fell to 6-6, with fans chanting for Tomlin to be fired and booing Renegade, Tomlin's ability to rally the team back into contention, going 4-1 in their final five games to win the AFC North, is a testament to just how well Tomlin has done since hitting what many perceived to be the franchise's rock bottom.

Rodgers has done an incredible job on the field in the late stretch of the season, silencing the doubters that believed he was not able to lead a team to the playoffs. He now has the Steelers poised to win a postseason game for the first time since the 2016 season. The start to the 2025 campaign might not have been what everyone had expected, but the best quarterbacks know that the performances in January are the ones that matter the most, and Rodgers has certainly done everything he can to put the Steelers into playoff contention.

The Steelers are heading into the playoffs on a hot streak of their own, and with Rodgers and Tomlin leading the team, the potential to surprise everyone and make a deep playoff run is certainly there. However, there are plenty of things that the Steelers will need to plan for, starting with the game against the Texans, that will go a long way to ensuring the Steelers have the best chance possible to win a playoff game and make a deep playoff run.

Steelers Must Protect Rodgers

The Steelers have been successful because Rodgers has been protected in the pocket. If the Steelers want to ensure they have the best chance possible to win moving forward, they need to continue protecting the four-time NFL MVP. Keeping Rodgers clean to give him time to get the ball to the key offensive players will be the most vital game plan to ensuring success.

What did you think about Rodgers' comments about Tomlin and the franchise? Let us know below.

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