Rookie quarterback Will Howard didn’t expect his first week in Pittsburgh to feel like grad school. But with Aaron Rodgers leading the room, that’s exactly what it’s been. “He’s been so awesome to me so far,” Howard said, still wide-eyed from their early exchange. “Holy s—, man. Aaron Rodgers is asking me questions… and I’m answering them.” Every pointer, every footwork tip, every subtle film-room adjustment—it’s been “invaluable.” For Howard, it’s more than mentorship. It’s a masterclass.

That teaching presence isn’t by accident. From the moment Rodgers slid into his seat next to the rookie in the Steelers’ meeting room, it was clear he wasn’t just here to play. He was here to teach. Having guided talents like Jordan Love in Green Bay and even offering counsel to Zach Wilson, Rodgers came into Pittsburgh ready to do the same. Which is precisely why he took a step back from his usual role as a quarterback.

On Tuesday, Rodgers stopped by The Pat McAfee Show, where he talked about his new role in Pittsburgh besides throwing dimes in the 2025 season. And he laid it out all plainly and simply: I’m not here to slow things down, I’m here to help young quarterbacks. “Even though I come in with that past and that background, I think it’s important to come in with humility,” Rodgers said.

“So, that’s what I’ve been trying to do with the guys. And in the quarterback meetings, and I told Tom Arth, quarterback coach, ‘I’m not going to speak up. I’m not going to slow things down. I’m going to study back at the hotel room and ask you questions on the side. I’m not going to interrupt the room.'” Rodgers said after he recently signed a one-year deal with the Steelers.

Rodgers isn’t just preaching humility—he’s structuring his entire approach around it. At 41, with a resume that includes four MVPs and nearly 63K yards, he’s still choosing the back seat in quarterback meetings. Why? Well, to let the quarterback coach run the show, and more importantly, to avoid overshadowing the growth of young signal-callers.

We’re talking about Mason Rudolph, Skylar Thompson, and the former Buckeyes quarterback, Howard. “As we get into this, I want to help those guys out,” Rodgers added. “Mason’s played a lot of football, so does Sky, and Will’s a rookie. And so I pulled them aside during one of the days and I said, ‘Listen, I want to help you as much as possible.'”With Rodgers entrenched as QB1, he’s now shifting gears—from competitor to teacher—as he takes Rudolph, Sky, and Howard under his wing heading into the season.

And it all makes sense. After all, Aaron Rodgers announced that it’s going to be his last season in the NFL.

Here comes the retirement announcement of Aaron Rodgers

Aaron Rodgers has been the hottest name this offseason. And let’s just say it’s not just for him being in the free agency for the first time. In fact, amidst the speculations of his signing with the Steelers, the rumor mill was buzzing that the 41-year-old quarterback is considering retirement rather than arriving in Pittsburgh. Well, he eventually signed a deal with the Steelers, no doubt. But Rodgers just announced that it’s pretty much his last season in the NFL.

“Yeah, I’m pretty sure this is it,” Rodgers said when asked when it is his last year. “That’s why we just did a one-year deal,” he added, addressing his contract with the Steelers. After months of verbal agreement with Pittsburgh, Rodgers finally inked a one-year, $13.65 million deal with the Steelers. The deal included $10 million in guaranteed, and can be worth up to $19.5 million with incentives, as per his contract terms.

“I mean, I’ve played 20 freaking years, you know, like it’s been a long, a long run,” Rodgers continued. “I’ve enjoyed it, and what better place to finish than in one of the cornerstone franchises of the NFL with Mike Tomlin and a great group of leadership and great guys in the city that, you know, expects you to win.” His one-year deal with the Steelers set up a Week 1 showdown between the 41-year-old quarterback and his former team, the Jets.

It’s a last dance for Rodgers in the NFL. He’s gearing up to start with a bang. Will he wrap up his NFL career on a high note? We’ll get to know about that.