Steelers Now
PITTSBURGH — According to Elias Sports, Aaron Rodgers versus Joe Flacco on Thursday night will be only the third time in NFL history that two quarterbacks 40 years or older will start against each other. Tom Brady and Drew Brees did it twice in 2020.
Rodgers (41) and Flacco (40) are a combined 81 years old. Steelers defensive tackle Cam Heyward joked before Rodgers’ media availability on Tuesday that Thursday night will be the “Icy Hot Bowl.”
Rodgers, who’s the oldest active player in the NFL, looks forward to facing a fellow veteran quarterback.
“I think it’s great for all the old guys. I know when I watch other sports, maybe it’s because I’m the old guy, I tend to pull for the older guys to win, to win championships,” Rodgers said. “I’ve been friends with Steph [Curry] for a long time. Steph is one of the older guys in the NBA now. Anytime the Warriors are playing, I’m always pulling for Steph to ball out and them to win.”
Rodgers revealed that he has a close relationship with Flacco.
“It’s great. I’ve known Joe for a long time. He’s been great coming to my charity event,” the four-time NFL MVP said. “He’s been a great ambassador for the league. He’s had a great career, and it’s fun that we’re both still playing.”
Rodgers praised Flacco’s deep ball, which has been a staple of his career.
“I’ve just always enjoyed watching him throw the ball,” Rodgers said. “I mean, he’s got one of the prettiest, prettiest balls, tight spiral, great deep-ball thrower. He is one of the kind of old-school, 2000s, 90s-prototypical quarterbacks where so many — even when I was coming in the game — it was the big guys who had the big arms and now you’re seeing there’s some smaller guys.”
Flacco also was asked by the Cincinnati media about playing in a game with Rodgers and their combined age of 81.
“Age isn’t something I think about…but it’s pretty cool,” the Bengals‘ ‘signal-caller said.
To play into your 40s is a remarkable feat. Rodgers explained that he and Flacco have taken care of their bodies to reach this point.
With advances in exercise science, there could be an uptick in players playing past 40. Consistency remains the biggest component, however, according to Rodgers.
“There’s a lot more conversation and money spent by guys on their body in the offseason, over the years, as I’ve seen. The training, during my offseasons, is definitely different,”Rodgers said. “There is one key component and that’s consistency. In order to keep playing at an advanced age, you have to have some level of consistency to give you the opportunities. Obviously, Joe’s done it and I’ve done it.”
Alan Saunders provided reporting from Pittsburgh.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers Looks Forward to Historic Matchup vs. Joe Flacco: ‘I Think It’s Great for All the Old Guys’
