Steelers' OC makes feelings on 'laughable' Aaron Rodgers narrative clear

Questions about how Aaron Rodgers would mesh with Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith hovered over the organization before Rodgers signed a team-friendly contract to join the club in June. 

Multiple stories emerged this past winter claiming that Smith and quarterback Russell Wilson "did not have a very good working relationship" last season, in part because Smith allegedly didn't want Wilson changing plays at the line of scrimmage.

As The Athletic's Mike DeFabo noted, eyebrows were raised when it was spotted that Rodgers has been "given the freedom to make a number of adjustments at the line" during training-camp drills. Smith recently addressed what isn't a big deal in the eyes of the Pittsburgh offense. 

"That’s what was so laughable to all of us on the ground," Smith explained. "It’s about packaging plays and things you can do pre-snap and building multiple options, because you don’t want to just run into bad looks or have a Cover 4 beater, and they’re playing man or single-high zone. … We’ve got alerts and cans and checks, and so we’ve always done that."

Rodgers has a lengthy history of using numerous hand signals and checks to change routes and other aspects of plays at the line of scrimmage. Regardless of what did and/or didn't occur throughout the 2024 campaign, there's been no indication that Smith has any problem with letting Rodgers serve as an on-the-field general as it pertains to changing things before he snaps the ball. 

Rodgers insisted that Smith has been open to his and Steelers receivers' ideas since June. To his credit, Smith seems willing to trust that the 41-year-old will put the offense in the best position to win games in 2025. 

"You’re talking about a guy (Rodgers) who’s got 20-plus years of experience, been in multiple systems. He’s evolved in his career," Smith added. "A lot of things we were doing fit his skill set."

Practices this week offered signs that Rodgers is growing more comfortable with his new teammates, despite a previous concerning report. That said, Rodgers and other starters won't play in the Steelers' preseason opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Saturday, but he could see some action when Pittsburgh hosts the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Aug. 16.