The mutual respect Tomlin and Rodgers share is evident in Tomlin’s response, a message of gratitude to the quarterback who decided he wanted to spend his final season with the Steelers, a team that needed him as much as he needed them. When the 2025 offseason began, Rodgers knew he was leaving the Jets and the Steelers knew they needed a quarterback and found a partnership in their shared community.
For most of 2025, it has worked out, even if it has had some peaks and valleys. Rodgers has played some of his best football in years this season, helping the Steelers continue to cut into their lead in the AFC North with stellar performances against Baltimore, Miami and Detroit.
However, not everything has been good. Pittsburgh is emerging from one of those valleys after falling to Cleveland in Week 17, a massive upset in which Rodgers clearly missed his best receiver, DK Metcalf, and struggled to accomplish much of anything against the Browns defense. With the loss, the Steelers also left the door open for the Ravens to complete an unlikely comeback.
Still, even with their potential demise looming, Tomlin was positive and appreciative of Rodgers’ contributions in what is expected to be the future Hall of Famer’s final season, echoing the sentiment the 42-year-old quarterback had issued after the Week 17 loss.
“That’s one of the things that made him very attractive to us: that can-do attitude, the experience and the resume that comes with it,” Tomlin said. “I don’t think it’s work for him. I think it’s as natural as breathing, and so if he’s breathing, I expect to see that from him as we approach this game.”
The Steelers will need more than oxygen consumption from Rodgers, a quarterback who threw for 220-plus yards in each of their three straight December wins before finishing with just 168 yards in the loss to Cleveland. They will be hoping he can play hero one more time to extend the season beyond Sunday night.