Now that Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers has officially signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers, the next step for him is to build trust with Mike Tomlin. According to former cornerback-turned-analyst Joe Haden, Rodgers would be wise to follow a simple blueprint for getting along with his new head coach in Pittsburgh.
Joe Haden’s Advice for Rodgers on Navigating Mike Tomlin’s Leadership
When Haden signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2017, the three-time Pro Bowler didn’t know a lot about Tomlin. He was coming over from the Cleveland Browns, a fierce divisional rival in the AFC North, and knew there would be an adjustment period.
But adjusting to Tomlin didn’t take long for Haden. During a recent appearance on the “Up & Adams” show, the retired cornerback explained why and how Rodgers can take the same approach in winning Tomlin’s trust.
“He’s just a leader of men,” Haden told Kay Adams. “You just gotta be a grown man. Just be honest. Coach Tomlin does a great job of being able to just build genuine relationships with people.”
The advice was simple: Show up, be yourself, and embrace the honesty.
“One thing he’s gonna do, he’s gonna be blatantly honest with you, so you just need to be honest with him,” Haden added. “There’s no fluff, there’s no fake. When he tells you something, he genuinely means it.”
Joe Haden’s advice to Aaron Rodgers on building a successful relationship with Coach Tomlin. 🤝@heykayadams | @joehaden23 pic.twitter.com/yiZnmjMaHZ
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) June 12, 2025
Rodgers has already echoed some of that respect. He cited Tomlin as a major reason for choosing Pittsburgh in the first place and, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the two stayed in communication throughout free agency. Tomlin respected the veteran’s space as he worked through personal matters and Rodgers noticed.
“Steelers never wavered in their belief that Aaron Rodgers eventually would sign with Pittsburgh,” Schefter wrote on June 5. “Steelers HC Mike Tomlin loomed large in this entire situation. Tomlin was a drawing card for Rodgers, and was happy to work within Rodgers’ timeline. He is a major reason that Rodgers will be a Steeler.
Rodgers Already Making His Presence Felt in Pittsburgh
The Steelers landed Rodgers on a one-year, $13.65 million deal after his release from the New York Jets. Though the 2024 season was rocky for New York, Rodgers still threw for 3,897 yards and 28 touchdowns. Now, Pittsburgh is hoping the 41-year-old has one more deep playoff run left in him.
Rodgers has already made a strong impression off the field. After receiving a physical playbook — his preference over tablets — he personally thanked the administrative assistant (Chrissy Bulger) who assembled it and returned the unused supplies, saying he had brought his own. That moment stood out to Steelers quarterbacks coach Tom Arth.
“It was just a very thoughtful way to introduce himself to Chrissy and start building that relationship. That definitely stood out to me,” Arth told ESPN’s Brooke Pryor.
Rodgers also praised the franchise’s history and listed off a string of Pittsburgh-linked coaches who shaped his NFL journey. Now, he’s hoping to cap off his career playing for the coach he’s admired from afar for years.
