Steelers Now
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin recently hosted Aaron Rodgers and Steelers coaches for a barbecue cookout, according to Kevin Reynolds of WBRC 6 News in Alabama.
Woodrow Washington, the owner of Archibald’s BBQ and Archibald and Woodrow’s in Tuscaloosa, Ala., catered the event at Tomlin’s house.
Steelers defensive line coach Karl Dunbar, who also coached at Alabama under Nick Saban, is a close friend and fraternity brother of Washington’s.
Over the years, Washington has developed a relationship with Tomlin and several Steelers coaches. Tomlin has visited the restaurant during Alabama pro days for the past few years.
Washington shared pictures with WBRC 6 News of him and his staff posing for pictures with Tomlin and some Steeler coaches. Four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers, who just signed with the Steelers, also took pictures with the guys from Woodrow’s.
Washington and his staff cooked 240 rib slabs and 650 chicken wings, feeding around 70 people. Outside of Rodgers, there could have been several other players there, as well.
Washington was honored that Tomlin asked him to a cook for the event.
“It’s just humbling knowing people think highly of your food and the taste that you bring and ask you come. And I know my grandparents, George and Betty, my mom, Paulette, and George, they worked their butt off, years and years and years and years. And I know they’re happy to know that we’re stretching out a little further than Northport and Tuscaloosa,” Washington said.
Rodgers revealed during his introductory press conference that Tomlin was the driving force to why he signed with the Steelers. While Rodgers has a close relationship with Tomlin, former Steelers cornerback Joe Haden provided some advice on how to build that bond even more and become a true Steeler.
Rodgers and Tomlin have already started that process.
“You just got to be a grown man, go there, be honest,” Haden said on Up & Adams with Kay Adams. “Coach Tomlin does a great job of being able to build real, genuine relationships with people. Me and him had a relationship where you could just talk… One thing he’s going to do, he’s going to be blatantly honest with you, so you just need to be honest with him. Coach Tomlin is so real. There’s no fluff, there’s no fake, so when he tells you something, he means it.”
During the free agent process, Rodgers realized that his options were either playing for the Steelers or retirement. He did not think it would be worth it to play, unless it was for Tomlin.
“I appreciate the conversations with other organizations, for sure. But, again, I’ve said it. When it came between me and Mike. I made it to where, as I was going through with my personal stuff, there was no other option. It was here or not play,” Rodgers stated.
“I felt like being here with Coach T and the guys they got here and the opportunity here was the best for me, and I’m...
