Aaron Rodgers went to Pittsburgh largely because of Mike Tomlin. Now, Tomlin is gone.
Videos by FanBuzz
Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images
Details of Tomlin's final meeting with the Pittsburgh Steelers were reported by Mike DeFabo of The Athletic, and one moment in particular stood out.
As players exited the room, Tomlin stood by the door and spoke to each one. When Rodgers reached him, teammates said Rodgers was sobbing. Over and over, he said two words: "I'm sorry."
Rodgers knew the stakes. His arrival was part of an all-in push to snap the Steelers' nine-year playoff win drought. For Rodgers, a division title helped soften what had been two rough seasons with the New York Jets. For Tomlin, the season ended with a wild-card loss to the Houston Texans, a game that never felt out of reach and ultimately marked the end of a 19-year run.
DeFabo's reporting also adds clarity to what comes next. All signs point to Rodgers not returning in 2026. Even if he wanted to stay, a new coach would likely prefer a quarterback fully committed to the next chapter, not one quietly or publicly comparing everything to how Tomlin did it.
Then again, there is always one theoretical workaround. If Pittsburgh truly wanted another year of Rodgers, they could always try trading for Matt LaFleur of the Green Bay Packers.
After Rodgers' recent praise left LaFleur "speechless," it would at least keep things familiar.
