Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has expressed confidence as he prepares for his 21st NFL season, undeterred by external doubts regarding his performance. During a recent appearance on the Pat McAfee Show, which aired from Steelers training camp in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, McAfee pointed out that Rodgers’ first pass of the training camp was intercepted by linebacker Patrick Queen. This incident led to discussions about skepticism surrounding Rodgers' abilities at the age of 41. Rodgers responded with a sense of indifference towards the critics, conveying that he remains focused on his own game.

Rodgers is entering this season with a renewed perspective after an extensive tenure of 18 seasons with the Green Bay Packers and two seasons with the New York Jets. His previous season was marred by a significant injury, as he ruptured his Achilles tendon during the first quarter of a Week 1 matchup against the Buffalo Bills. Despite these challenges, Rodgers completed 63.0% of his passes for 3,897 yards, contributing 28 touchdowns against 11 interceptions over the 2024 season. According to Pro Football Reference, he ranked 20th in quarterback rating and 28th in QBR among 36 qualifying quarterbacks.

As Rodgers gears up for his new chapter with the Steelers, he is set to benefit from a strong supporting cast, including new WR1 D.K. Metcalf. Additionally, the Steelers bolstered their offensive lineup by acquiring Pro Bowl tight end Jonnu Smith from the Miami Dolphins, creating a talented tight end duo alongside Pat Freiermuth. While it remains uncertain how much playtime Rodgers will receive during the preseason, fans are eagerly anticipating his performance in a Steelers uniform, especially during the team's regular-season opener against the Jets on September 7.