After months of chatter about what quarterback Aaron Rodgers was going to do in 2026, he decided to return to the Steelers on a one-year deal for his final NFL season. While he came to the decision in May, which is late in the offseason, he has been full steam ahead.
Reuniting with head coach Mike McCarthy is a big reason for that, but the Steelers made sure to add more playmakers around the signal-caller as well. They traded for Michael Pittman Jr. and continued to bring in additional help at receiver during the NFL draft. Pittsburgh drafted Germie Bernard with the 47th overall pick in the second round.
And Bernard revealed that Rodgers has taken his time to help the rookie in any way possible.
"Coming in as a rookie and him being an NFL vet, man, he’s just. He’s helping me catch up because he thinks I have the potential to play. He’s just pouring into me as much as he can. I just ask questions and I try to learn, be a sponge as much as I can. Receive what they’re telling me because they know the best, they’ve been played the game for a long time.” Bernard said via Fox54 in Huntsville, Alabama.
While Rodgers has the reputation of being rigid and leaning on veterans more than younger guys, it seems like he's changing his approach to provide any sort of help to Bernard.
Pittsburgh Steelers WR Germie Bernard already seeing a different side of Aaron Rodgers
As Rodgers got older, he didn't seem as open to teaching rookies the ropes. He's more of a timing-based quarterback who wants his receivers at a specific spot for every route. That's why he leaned on veterans more than rookies, as they need time and reps to get up to speed.
While that's still going to take some time to develop for Bernard, Rodgers helping the Alabama product in any way is massive and will help the rookie get over the learning curve a bit quicker.
Last season, DK Metcalf led all Pittsburgh receivers in yards (850), but behind him, the production at receiver was poor. Calvin Austin had 372 receiving yards, which was second among WRs. That is nowhere near good enough, and they knew that. Adding the likes of Pittman and Bernard should change that, but if Rodgers wants to go out with a bang, he will need everyone at their best. So helping out Bernard and being a sounding board for him will help him out greatly in 2026.
Especially since he played well with the Crimson Tide. In 53 games at Alabama, he logged 155 receptions for 2,203 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns.
What Rodgers has done is the kind of help and leadership you want to see from your veteran quarterback. Things will turn up a notch when training camp begins in July, but based on the sound of things, Bernard is going to continue picking the brain of one of the NFL's greatest quarterbacks ever, and that should positively impact the Steelers this fall.
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