Although Russell Wilson made the Pro Bowl roster last season, the Pittsburgh Steelers haven’t really had elite, consistent quarterback play in several years. Although he’s now 41 years old, at his best, Aaron Rodgers isn’t just Pro Bowl caliber, but MVP caliber.
According to former Steelers Pro Bowl cornerback Joe Haden, though, the winning formula in Pittsburgh isn’t changing because of Rodgers’ arrival. With that in mind, Haden delivered a simple message to the four-time MVP Thursday while appearing on FanDuel TV’s Up & Adams.
“Don’t mess it up,” said Haden.
Haden, who earned a Pro Bowl bid with the Steelers in 2019 and a second-team All-Pro nomination with the Cleveland Browns in 2013, elaborated on why he doesn’t think Pittsburgh needs a MVP-like season from Rodgers to have success this fall.
“Him playing with the Steelers, they have a really good organization. He doesn’t have to do too crazy,” Haden said to host Kay Adams. “Don’t be out there messing things up, be a good leader. Make the right pass. Don’t just be turning the ball over. We have a great defense in Pittsburgh.
“So, don’t mess it up.”
Joe Haden’s High Expectations for Aaron Rodgers With Steelers
Listening to just the first part of his answer about his take on Rodgers with the Steelers, Haden appeared to be suggesting the veteran quarterback should be more of a “game manager” than an elite passer.
But Haden expressed a lot of confidence in Rodgers having success in Pittsburgh because he doesn’t have to be Superman. Yet, Haden argued Rodgers can still be great.
“I think Aaron Rodgers is way better quarterback than just a ‘not mess it up quarterback.’ I think he’s going to be able to make plays, be able to give opportunities,” Haden said. “He can put the ball in places that other people can’t, so he’s going to be able to throw receivers open.”
Haden added that he wished the team had kept receiver George Pickens. With the fourth-year wideout and DK Metcalf, Haden said the Steelers would have “been a problem” for every defense.
But Haden argued Rodgers throwing passes to Metcalf this fall is still going to be “crazy.”
“He can still fling the ball with the best of them,” Haden said, continuing on Rodgers. “He may not be that mobile, but I don’t think he really needs the mobility. His mind and arm working alongside with Coach Tomlin.”
Rodgers posted his last winning year as a full-season starter in 2021. He went 8-9 in 2022 and then missed all but a couple snaps in 2023 because of an Achilles injury.
Last season, Rodgers led the New York Jets to a 5-12 mark.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has never suffered a losing season in his 18 years at the helm in Pittsburgh.
Haden Still Uses ‘We’ to Describe Steelers
It was a small takeaway point from Haden’s interview with Adams, but the former cornerback used “we” interchangeably with “Steelers” in his answers.
While Haden spent the final five years of his career in Pittsburgh, he played his first seven seasons with the Browns. While in Cleveland, Haden was arguably one of the best cornerbacks in the league.
After retiring, Haden signed a one-day contract with the Browns.
Steelers Nation wishes Haden had played in Pittsburgh longer. But since his retirement, the fan base has come to accept sharing his legacy with a hated division rival.
It’s nice to see Haden appears to hold his time with Pittsburgh in such high regard that he still uses “we” in answers about the Steelers more than three years after his departure.
