Aaron Rodgers threw some not-so-subtle shade at his Pittsburgh Steelers teammates and NFL officials after the team’s season-opening victory over the Atlanta Falcons.
“I think we did a lot of good things out there,” Rodgers, 42, told sports commentator Pam Oliver while speaking to reporters after his Sunday, September 13, win. “We had a chance to be really, really explosive. We had a couple drops, a couple off targets, a couple non-calls, looked like penalties.”
The Steelers defeated the Falcons 20-13 in their season opener at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on Sunday. Despite their win, the Steelers endured a few sluggish moments that included unnecessary penalties and dropped passes.
“We had a 40-yard PI. It could have been a touchdown,” Rodgers continued of his teammates’ play on Sunday. “We had a couple other ones — could have been big plays. So, you know, we were just a little bit off. But they got a good scheme.”
The quarterback added, “It’s good to be out of here. One and zero.”
Rodgers also opened up about reuniting with coach Mike McCarthy, who spent 13 seasons leading the Green Bay Packers during Rodgers’ tenure with the team. McCarthy, who was fired by Green Bay in 2018, took over as the Steelers ahead of the 2026 NFL season.
“I’m enjoying it for sure,” Rodgers told Oliver. “To be back here with Mike, about to give him this game ball, which will be really special.”
Rodgers also gave a shoutout to linebacker T.J. Watt, brother of retired defensive end and future hall-of-famer J.J. Watt, noting that he played an “unbelievable” game.
“He’s been on a different level this entire camp. I’m so proud of him. I love the way he leads,” he continued before shouting out defensive tackle Cameron Heyward, whom Rodgers called “the epitome of a Pittsburgh Steeler.”
“To be able to share this team with him, to be able to share in the leadership opportunity is really, really special in my last year, and I’m just so thankful for just the opportunity [to] back out here and play the game I love with guys I really respect and love as well,” Rodgers concluded.
Sunday’s game marked the last first game of Rodgers’ NFL career as he enjoys his final run after 22 seasons. (The athlete was drafted in 2005 by the Packers and spent 18 seasons with the team until 2022. He moved on to New York Jets for two seasons, 2023 and 2024, before finishing up his career with the Steelers beginning in 2025.)
Rodgers confirmed his retirement in May, telling reporters at the time, “Yes, this is it.”
Later, Rodgers shared how he hopes to spend his retirement, teasing that he’d like to start a family with his mystery wife, Brittani.
“I’m hopefully going to be supporting my pregnant wife because we’re going to start a family and I am not going to be making a lot of appearances or statements,” he told Adam Schein of SiriusXM’s Mad Dog Sports Radio on Tuesday, September 8. “And I’m looking forward to a life of quiet after 22 years in the pros and three in college and getting my body healed up and working on a family. That’s what I’m looking forward to.”
