NFL News: Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers bizarre request before signing contract with Pittsburgh

Aaron Rodgers reputation as a out-of-the-box soul is growing by the second. During the last few years in the NFL, he’s made known his opinions on pretty much every topic there is. Not only that, but he has also made weird requests to his teams. Before joining the Pittsburgh Steelers, he had one petition that took some of the staff by surprise.

The Super Bowl-winning QB stated that he wanted a ‘unique’ playbook. At first, one could think that means creative and explosive plays, but no. A-Rod is not like the rest of us, he wanted something more traditional.

While the NFL, and the world, have evolved into a more technology-driven mindset, the old soul of Rodgers wanted to have a playbook printed out. According to Brooke Pryor from ESPN, the QB says he likes to take notes with pencil rather than a tablet.

Needless to say, the Steelers weren’t going to let something like this ruin the signing, so they obliged. By the time Rodgers went to his first offensive meeting, he had a binder and a pouch of pencils, highlighters, erasers and other tools.

Offense is the Steelers’ weakness

Head coach Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on before a game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Acrisure Stadium on January 04, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Mike Tomlin is a future Hall of Famer. However, since about 2020, his offenses have been pretty average. After firing former OC Matt Canada, the Steelers fandom rejoiced. However, Arthur Smith didn’t craft an explosive offense in his first year as the playcaller.

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Can Rodgers and his printed playbook be a difference-maker? That’s yet to be seen, but sure enough the offense needs a spark. By losing their top WR George Pickens and top RB Najee Harris in the offseason, the Steelers offense is entering a whole new era with Rodgers.

There is a Steelers debt since 2017

January 2017 was the last time Pittsburgh won a playoff game. After that, the best they’ve done, repeatedly, is crashing out as a one-and-done in the postseason. For a storied franchise like them, that can’t keep happening.

One thing is sure for Mike Tomlin, he will always stay over .500. During all his tenure as an NFL head coach, Tomlin has never known what a losing season looks like. At first, that was great, but now it seems anecdotic as the fanbase wants playoff success, not staying in the NFL limbo. The hope is Aaron Rodgers can change that, but being 1-3 in his last four playoff games is not precisely a source of big hope.