Aaron Rodgers had high praise for DK Metcalf after Monday’s practice. Speaking on “The Pat McAfee Show”, which set up shop at Saint Vincent College for the Steelers’ first padded practice of camp, Rodgers didn’t hold back when the conversation turned to his star receiver.
Metcalf was standing right there beside the stage as his quarterback sang his praises.
Aaron Rodgers Reveals How His Connection With DK Metcalf Evolved
“He’s a specimen. From a body-type standpoint, he’s like nobody I’ve ever played with,” Rodgers said, describing Metcalf’s rare combination of size and speed. “He weighs 230ish, two high 220s, and he’s like 10% body fat maybe or less. He’s an absolute animal.”
But the praise didn’t stop at physical traits. Rodgers spent a good chunk of the segment talking about how his relationship with Metcalf has evolved since the two arrived in Pittsburgh together last year. He pointed to their time at Idaho as a turning point.
Rodgers said the private offseason trip to Idaho was where the shift happened, describing a level of closeness with teammates that wasn’t there a year ago.
Last season, the two were teammates. This year, Rodgers said, they’ve become close friends. He was careful to clarify that his feelings toward Metcalf weren’t lacking before. It’s just that something shifted this offseason, and the two found a different level of connection.
That closeness carries off the field, too. Metcalf is actually Rodgers’ roommate at the team dorms during training camp, which has clearly given the two more time to get to know each other. Rodgers pointed to that living arrangement as part of what’s deepened the friendship.
Rodgers also touched on Metcalf’s character, not just his talent. He described him as someone with a big heart who genuinely cares about doing things the right way.
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“He’s got a really big heart, and he really cares about doing things the right way,” Rodgers said. “If you’re a young player and you want to know what it looks like to be an NFL player and to practice the right way, you should watch DK Metcalf.”
Rodgers’ comments come as Metcalf enters a pivotal second season in Pittsburgh. His first year with the Steelers didn’t exactly match the ceiling many expected when the team traded for him last offseason.
He finished with 850 receiving yards, 59 catches on 99 targets, and six touchdowns, numbers that were solid but well below his best seasons in Seattle.
A two-game suspension for an altercation with a fan didn’t help matters, and neither did an offense that leaned conservative with its downfield shots; his 11.3-yard average depth of target was a career low. Metcalf finished 14th in Pro Football Network’s Wide Receiver Impact Rankings, a proprietary metric, in 2025.
He still found ways to make an impact even when the offense wasn’t built to feature him, generating 420 yards after the catch, a sign that his ability to create with the ball in his hands remained a real weapon regardless of scheme.
Pittsburgh has since retooled the receiver room around him, adding Michael Pittman Jr. and drafting Germie Bernard, moves aimed at spreading out defenses and opening space for Metcalf to operate.
Pittsburgh also has a new head coach. McCarthy took over in January after Mike Tomlin stepped down following 19 seasons, and he arrives reunited with the quarterback he coached for more than a decade in Green Bay. With McCarthy setting the offensive direction, there’s real optimism that Metcalf could see the kind of downfield opportunities that were missing a year ago.
