Steelers' Broderick Jones Has Love/Hate Relationship With Aaron Rodgers

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers are just over two weeks away from their Week 1 matchup against the New York Jets. It will be the first time the first-string offense, led by veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers, will play together in a real game. The unit has built rapport and chemistry throughout training camp, but the real tests for this group are yet to come.

One of the big questions facing the Steelers’ starters is how well will the offensive line protect Rodgers? The answer may be found in their off-field relationships. The group is a young one, aside from veteran leader at left guard, Isaac Seumalo. The tackles on both sides, Troy Fautanu and Broderick Jones, face intense pressure and scrutiny as the 2025 season approaches.

For Jones, it’s yet another test for the former first-round draft pick. After a slump of a second season, he’s impressed during camp and his brief appearances in the first two preseason games. It’s setting him up for a potential breakout season protecting Rodgers, who is one of the most talked about and intriguing players in the NFL. Playing with a quarterback of his caliber can be quite the challenge, a challenge that Jones recently discussed with the media following practice.

“It’s a love/hate relationship at the same time,” he said. “Because sometimes he’s playing, but everybody’s not on the same page. But it’s also good to have that bond within to have the understanding of ‘Okay, he’s a vet.’ ‘I know everything, let me make sure everybody else is good and then we can carry on with whatever was going on, whatever the situation was.’ Just things like that. But I feel like he has a good sense of who he is and who we’re trying to be and getting us to where we’re trying to go.”