Steelers Now
Former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Daunte Culpepper thinks Aaron Rodgers is going to turn heads this season with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Many are doubting the 41-year-old quarterback, thinking that he’s washed up, but Culpepper thinks that’s a risky proposition.
“For some reason, I don’t know why, but in Pittsburgh you’ve got a quarterback that’s been in the league a long time, and people are doubting him. He has a great weapon and that organization is known for putting things together to win games,” Culpepper said in an interview with Jack Green of Betway Insider. “I think Aaron Rodgers is going to have a good year. I’m going to say that right now. I know a lot of people might say I’m crazy, but if he’s healthy, I think he’ll have a great year.”
The best-case scenario for the Steelers is if Rodgers pulls off a Brett Favre-Like 2009 season. Favre, who at age 40, passed for 4,202 yards, 33 touchdown and seven interceptions in 2009. He also had a career-best 107.2 quarterback rating. Favre led Minnesota to the NFC Championship, coming up just short 31-28 against the New Orleans Saints.
Since 2022, Rodgers has 54 passing touchdowns. In that same time frame, the Steelers have had only 46 touchdown passes. Rodgers also had only one pass attempt in 2023 before suffering a season-ending Achilles injury.
Rodgers showed he can still play good football last year with the New York Jets, throwing for 3,897 yards, 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
Rodgers is very bullish on Arthur Smith’s offense, but beyond the X’s and O’s, the four-time NFL MVP really values Smith as a person.
“I see two people who really love football coming together and gaining trust in one another as the season continues on,” Rodgers said in an interview with Adam Schein on Mad Dog Radio on Monday. “I think personality-wise, he is somebody who I’d be friends with if we didn’t play. If we didn’t have the football connection. Just his sarcasm, his sense of humor, the way that he talks to people, and his general personality.”
The close bond that Rodgers and Smith have built at training camp should be beneficial in high-pressure situations during games this year.
“I feel like Art and I are gonna be friends long after this ends,” Rodgers said. “And that’s an important part of it because there’s gotta be trust. There’s gotta be a feel. And we’ve been spending a lot of time together this month, just talking ball and talking situations. I’m really excited about working together. And I think it’s gonna be a lot of fun.”
Smith’s offense prioritizes establishing the running game, along with incorporating multiple tight end sets. It’s different than what Rodgers is used to, but he finds it to be very innovative.
“That’s what I love about Art’s offense. It’s a very creative offense,” he said. “We’ve spent a lot of time together talking through concepts and ideas and philosophy and different things.”
Rodgers, who’s in his...
