Steelers insider expands on how Aaron Rodgers will work with OC Arthur Smith

Multiple stories that emerged this past winter revealed that Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith and quarterback Russell Wilson "did not have a very good working relationship" last season.

This is in part because "Smith did not want Wilson changing plays at the line of scrimmage...and deviating from the game plan." 

Thus, some understandably have wondered how Smith will get along with Aaron Rodgers, a future Hall of Famer known for using a variety of hand signals to make changes seconds before he snaps the ball for a play. 

On Thursday, Steelers insider Mike DeFabo of The Athletic explained why Pittsburgh fans shouldn't yet be worried about the Rodgers-Smith marriage. 

"I think Smith has enough respect for Rodgers that he’ll afford the four-time MVP a bit more freedom, especially with hand signals to make route adjustments without changing the entire play," DeFabo wrote. "In my opinion, if the Steelers believe in Rodgers at this stage of his career, their best bet is that the veteran can use his brain and his experience to work around any physical limitations. They’ll need to give Rodgers plenty of autonomy within the offense for him to take full advantage of these attributes."

Rodgers' visit with the Steelers in March reportedly left Smith "excited to work with" the 41-year-old this coming season. More recently, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated mentioned how Rodgers having ex-Smith staffmates Matt LaFleur (Green Bay Packers) and Todd Downing (New York Jets) as offensive play-callers should help ensure that the Steelers get the most out of what's left of the veteran who played through multiple physical setbacks last fall. 

"I’d imagine the Steelers will take many of the quick game concepts from the West Coast offense," DeFabo added. "That will help get the ball out of Rodgers’ hand, keep him upright more often and take advantage of his quick release. ...I also think the Steelers will lean heavily into 4×1 formations, which put four eligible receivers on one side of the formation. That’s an en vogue concept that the Packers and others have utilized with great success, so it’s both familiar to Rodgers and trendy."

Smith and Co. won't want Mason Rudolph to have to take meaningful in-game snaps this fall. Keeping Rodgers healthy and happy is the best way for the Steelers to avoid needing to turn to Rudolph at any point before Week 18 wraps up. 

As for Rodgers, he presumably should have something to prove after a Jets regime that didn't acquire him from the Packers in the spring of 2023 unceremoniously showed him the door this past winter. Getting on the same page as Smith as soon as possible would allow Rodgers to focus on facing none other than the Jets at MetLife Stadium in Pittsburgh's regular-season opener on Sept. 7.