Steelers Now
New Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers revealed which player had the biggest impact on him signing with Pittsburgh.
There were several factors that led quarterback Aaron Rodgers to sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers this offseason. But the four-time NFL MVP revealed there’s one Steeler that he couldn’t turn down the chance of playing with.
“D.K. [Metcalf] is a lead-by-example guy,” Rodgers said during his Tuesday appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show.” “He’s a big reason I’m in Pittsburgh as well. Conversations that we had, and just the kind of person that he is. At the start of the year, I didn’t really know DK at all.”
“DK Metcalf is a lead by example guy..
He’s a big reason why I’m in Pittsburgh as well” @AaronRodgers12 #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/ATV7GxzHsk
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) June 24, 2025
Rodgers began building his relationship with Metcalf in March when the two had a throwing session at UCLA. Since then, the 41-year-old has not stopped gushing over the 6-foot-4, 235-pound Metcalf.
“He’s like, ‘I work out at six a.m. every day.’ I’m like, okay, this guy has discipline, this guy has a drive. I said, How about eight o’clock because I’m gonna have to drive from Malibu to UCLA? He said, ‘Yeah, that’s fine.’ He’s not just a specimen, but he’s a really solid human being,” Rodgers continued. “He is a solid dude, and he leads by example. The way he practices. The room goes how the top dog goes, and when DK catches the ball and finishes 60 yards to the endzone, it makes everyone else want to do the same thing.”
Many questioned if the Steelers roster was enticing enough for Rodgers to sign with them. It turns out, their trade for Metcalf in March made all the difference.
Rodgers still took a few more months before ultimately joining Pittsburgh, but that’s because he was dealing with personal issues off the field.
Now, Rodgers and Metcalf can continue building their rapport before heading to training camp in July. Rodgers said that’s exactly the plan.
Only time will tell if they can have as productive of a season as many are imagining, but with a very underwhelming wide receiver room past Metcalf, it’s a safe bet to make.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Aaron Rodgers Reveals Player Who Led Him to Sign with Steelers: ‘He’s a Big Reason I’m in Pittsburgh’
