The relationship between Pittsburgh Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers and head coach Mike Tomlin is a big reason why Rodgers is with the team. The two talked weekly while Rodgers went through his free agency process. Appearing on The Pat McAfee Show on Wednesday, Rodgers talked about what makes Tomlin special and why he has so much respect for his head coach.
“Mike T is the man. Any hate, disrespect, and the ilk, is complete and utter bullshit,” Rodgers said. “From Day One that we talked on the phone in the offseason, I was never talking to a head coach. I was talking to a friend. I respected the hell out of that. I have crazy respect for him.
“The way that he leads the room. The way that he talks in team meetings. The way he is at practice. The surprise has been just what a great dude he is. What a great leader he is,” Rodgers added. “On top of what I already expected, which was already high, based off what I thought from afar…he’s the type of guy that every great coach makes you want to play for him. And what I mean to expand on that, is you care so deeply about the person, you don’t want to let him down.”
It’s no surprise that Rodgers has a lot of respect for Tomlin. Tomlin is one of the most respected coaches around the league, and Rodgers has said in the past that Tomlin is a big reason why he signed with the Steelers. But seeing it from afar and seeing it in person and being a part of the culture that Tomlin creates are two different things. Rodgers is now seeing up close why Tomlin is so respected from those inside the locker room.
Tomlin has gotten a lot of criticism, especially recently, for his lack of playoff success. The fanbase and the national media have gotten on Tomlin with the Steelers having not won a playoff game since 2016, but Rodgers isn’t buying into the disrespect. Seeing how Tomlin operates up close has made Rodgers a believer in his new head coach, and from someone else who has gotten a lot of disrespect from talking heads around the league, Rodgers doesn’t think Tomlin deserves it.
Even though players say that Tomlin is someone they want to play for, no one can know what he’s truly like until they’re ingrained in the team. Rodgers has been since late June, and with a week of training camp and a few days of mandatory minicamp under his belt, he’s gotten a chance to see how Tomlin operates. Clearly, Tomlin has met the expectations that Rodgers had for him, and it should be a good working relationship this season.
Having a head coach who Rodgers respects could be key for him returning to form this season. Last season, the Jets had a lot of turmoil among the coaching staff, with Robert Saleh getting fired early in the season and Jeff Ulbrich replacing him. Neither of them has the stature that Tomlin does when it comes to respect around the league. Tomlin is undoubtedly one of the preeminent coaches in football. Even though Rodgers is well on his way to Canton, Ohio and enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, he’s now with a coach who he seems to think the world of and doesn’t want to let down.
That could motivate Rodgers this season. Tomlin, Rodgers and the rest of the Steelers have a common goal at this point. It’s been far too long since the Steelers have had meaningful postseason success, and the same can be said for Rodgers. Their common motivation to be legitimate contenders and win a Super Bowl, coupled with the mutual respect between Tomlin and Rodgers, could lead to big things for Pittsburgh this season.
The two of them could be viewed as kindred spirits in a sense. Both Tomlin and Rodgers have something to prove and a lot of doubters to prove wrong. They’ll look to do just that this season.
