Steelers' Darnell Washington Opens Up About Aaron Rodgers Getting Frustrated With Teammates

The Pittsburgh Steelers enter the 2026 NFL Playoffs riding the momentum of an AFC North championship, their first division crown since 2020. A major reason for their success has been 42-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Throughout his career, Rodgers has dealt with plenty of criticism, especially from those who have questioned his personality or labeled him as being a difficult teammate. However, inside Pittsburgh’s locker room, that perception appears far from reality. 

One of the many rising stars for the Steelers during the 2025 season has been tight end Darnell Washington. The third-year pro out of Georgia emerged as a key piece of Pittsburgh’s offensive attack, using his size and strength to give the Steelers a reliable option in both the passing and run game. 

Washington’s massive 6’7” frame makes him a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses, and his physical blocking adds another reason for Head Coach Mike Tomlin to keep him on the field. Unfortunately for Pittsburgh, a Week 17 arm injury appears to have cut his breakout year short, likely ending his 2025 campaign before the postseason even began.

Washington has certainly benefited from catching passes from the four-time NFL MVP. With Rodgers at the helm, Washington posted career highs in targets, receptions, and receiving yards, showing flashes of becoming a long-term cornerstone of the offense. His chemistry with Rodgers steadily improved throughout the season.

While making a guest appearance on a recent episode of the Why Is Draymond Green Talking About Football Podcast, Washington opened up about what it has been like playing alongside a quarterback with Rodgers’ reputation and experience. Naturally, the conversation shifted toward leadership and how Rodgers handles adversity, specifically what happens when a play breaks down or a teammate makes a mistake.

This topic has followed Rodgers for much of his career. Critics have often pointed to moments on the sideline or on the field where Rodgers has visibly shown frustration with teammates. 

Cameras have caught him shouting after miscommunications, botched routes, or pre-snap issues. That pattern has continued in the 2025 season, with several moments going viral on social media. Some fans and analysts interpret those reactions as Rodgers being overly harsh or difficult to play with, feeding into a narrative that he is a bad teammate or lacks patience.

Washington didn’t shy away from acknowledging that Rodgers can be animated or direct, especially in the heat of the moment, but he emphasized that there is purpose behind it.

“He’s the leader of our offense, he’s the heartbeat of it. Whatever he say, it is what it is, you gotta move on and you gotta protect him and keep him clean,” Washington said. “At the end of the day, we know what we did wrong.”

Ever since Rodgers arrived in the Steel City, teammates have praised his leadership and style of play, and that has rewarded Pittsburgh with a division crown and a trip to the playoffs. 

Players have repeatedly talked about how his preparation, attention to detail, and ability to control the pace of a game have raised the standard for everyone on the offensive side of the ball. Rodgers' presence alone has given the team a different level of confidence, and the results have shown on the field.

Steelers Look To Make Postseason Run Without Washington

The Steelers will host the Houston Texans in the Wild Card Round on Monday night at Acrisure Stadium, and they'll once again be playing without Washington.  Washington suffered a broken arm in the team's Week 17 loss against the Cleveland Browns, and underwent surgery shortly after. Washington has shown throughout the 2025 season what he brings to the table, and the Steelers will continue to look to replace his production in the postseason. 

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