Aaron Rodgers was brought in by the Pittsburgh Steelers to help them get over the hump, but they were unable to do so. This includes them again failing to win a playoff game for their sixth postseason appearance across the past nine years.
A day after they were eliminated, head coach Mike Tomlin stepped down, and the legendary quarterback responded emotionally.
Aaron Rodgers’ Emotional Reaction to Mike Tomlin Leaving the Steelers
Tomlin has spent 19 years as the Steelers’ head coach and has never had a losing season. He also won two AFC Championships and a Super Bowl ring, but hasn’t won a playoff game since the 2016 NFL season. This likely contributed to his decision to step down from his position.
Mike DeFabo of “The Athletic” reported that Tomlin announced the news to the team himself during a meeting on the day after their Wild Card round loss to the Houston Texans on Monday Night Football. Rodgers was apparently among those who took it hard, even voicing an emotional reaction to the situation.
“Inside the team meeting room on Tuesday, Rodgers, through sobs, mustered a two-word message to deliver to his coach: ‘I’m sorry,’ several players heard him say,” reported DeFabo.
Rodgers’ apology suggests he is taking some accountability for their failures this year. He was expected to be a finishing piece in his first season in Pittsburgh and would theoretically help the Steelers overcome their drought of nearly a decade without winning a playoff game. A disastrous performance in a blowout against the Texans ended their hopes of doing so.
The veteran led their offense to just six points, and his mistakes in the fourth quarter played a major role in their disappointing result. He turned the ball over twice in the final minutes, both of which were returned for touchdowns, turning a one-score game into a blowout. This came despite their defense forcing five fumbles and recording an interception against C.J. Stroud.
It was a disappointing year in general for Rodgers, who finished just 29th in PFSN’s Impact Rankings among all quarterbacks this season. His apology in response to Tomlin’s announcement may have stemmed from his failure to live up to expectations after the team acquired him for this year. The head coach reportedly received a standing ovation from his team, but his decision left many of them in tears.
