Football
Aaron Rodgers once told the world to relax. Cam Heyward is now doing the same thing on Rodgers’ behalf. Hosting a live episode of his Not Just Football podcast after Thursday’s schedule release, co-host Hayden Walsh asked Heyward for his thoughts on Rodgers.
“Bro, chill out. He’ll get there when he gets there,” Heyward said of Rodgers. “It’s the middle of summer. If anyone knows the system better than anybody, it’s Aaron. And he’s not a big proponent into having this long training. I think he trains well on his own. He knows what his body needs at this point.”
Rodgers spent more than a decade of his career playing for head coach Mike McCarthy. He would have a seamless transition picking it up again. It’s created less urgency for him to sign early, and frankly, may be the only reason why the door was left open for Rodgers to return. Hiring any other head coach and different system would’ve been incentive for Rodgers to retire – or for the new coach to want to go in a different direction.
When asked, Heyward said he didn’t think Rodgers was in Pittsburgh last weekend despite a flurry of reports suggesting that he would be or was there. While Heyward didn’t present that as fact, he was positive the two weren’t hanging out together after speculation Rodgers was in town to celebrate Heyward’s 37th birthday.
“We’re grown men,” he said. “We’re not celebrating birthdays together. I didn’t even have a birthday party. My agent’s calling me saying there’s multiple reports saying, ‘Is he hanging out with Cam?’”
In early 2025, Heyward made media waves when he opted against pitching Rodgers to join the Steelers the way he spent 90 minutes talking to Russell Wilson ahead of the 2024 season. After a year together, Heyward is defending Rodgers from fans and pundits frustrated by him failing to sign a contract by now.
Based on Heyward’s wording, “He’ll get there when he gets there,” he seems confident Rodgers will sign. If so, the question will be, as it’s always been, when? Before OTAs this upcoming Monday? Mandatory minicamp in June? For training camp? Every possibility must be considered.
Heyward isn’t going to let it consume his thoughts the way Rodgers’ storyline has consumed the media news cycle.
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