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By Robert Marvi
Contributing Sports Writer
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Aaron Rodgers is undoubtedly one of the two or three greatest quarterbacks of the last 15 years or so, and he is obviously a lock to get inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame once he hangs up his cleats for good.
But he has become polarizing over the last few years due to self-inflicted wounds. The four-time NFL MVP has said and done some things off the field that have turned people against him, and as a result, some are rooting against him these days.
After two dismal seasons with the New York Jets, Rodgers will now attempt to elevate the Pittsburgh Steelers this fall and winter. Some may feel he isn't a good teammate due to his condescending reputation, but Steelers backup QB Skylar Thompson had a lot of positive things to say about the positive influence Rodgers has been.
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"I think he gets misinterpreted a lot because people judge a book by its cover and don't really know him," Thompson explained. "I'm not claiming that I really know him, but just being around him on a daily basis, he's a good dude, cares about his teammates, holds people accountable. There's a real desire for greatness that he expects all the time, and that's been a great perspective for me. ... He comes out here every day with a smile on his face. Whatever music is playing, you see him singing sometimes. Sometimes, you see him playing the air guitar. You can just tell he's in his safe place. He's just himself every single day. When we're off the field, he loves being around the guys. He's not too big for anyone. That's really cool because not everybody's like that, and he wants to be like everybody else. Just a really good dude."
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Rodgers' accomplishments speak for themselves. He led the Green Bay Packers to their most recent Super Bowl championship during the 2010 season, and unlike Brett Favre, his predecessor in Green Bay, he throws interceptions about as often as the state of Wisconsin experiences 100-degree temperatures.
But he has expressed a belief in some conspiracy theories, including debunked theories about COVID-19 and the vaccine that helps prevent it. Some have accused him of masquerading as an intellectual without the requisite knowledge or aptitude.
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After the Jets played poor football with him on their roster (he missed virtually all of the 2023 season with a torn Achilles), Rodgers now has a chance to end his career on somewhat of a positive note.
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Pittsburgh doesn't have a lot of bona fide offensive weapons, but it does have one of the NFL's more talented defensive units. It plays in one of the league's most difficult divisions, but it has managed to remain competitive over the years despite roster changes.
It hasn't finished with a losing record since 2003, four years before Mike Tomlin became its head coach. If Rodgers is able to step into the Wayback Machine and elevate the team beyond the sum of its parts, perhaps the general public will start singing a more complimentary tune about him.
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