When you have a long playing career, you get to know players and coaches around the league. Even if you only interact sparingly throughout the season, if you string enough seasons together, you develop a relationship and respect even for coaches and players not on your own team.
Aaron Rodgers entered the NFL in 2005. Head coach Mike Tomlin joined the NFL coaching ranks in 2001, but took over as the head coach of the Steelers in 2007. The duo had similar paths in that they carved out a legacy with one franchise and put up respectable numbers. Rodgers’ tenure in Green Bay ended ahead of the 2023 season, but now he will join Tomlin in Pittsburgh in 2025.
Rodgers’ career has led to numerous memorable moments, many of which have been immortalized in GIF form. One of the more popular GIFs, especially with his signing with the Steelers, involves his new head coach.
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Here is more on the interaction between Rodgers and Tomlin.
MORE: Full details on Aaron Rodgers’ signing with the Steelers
Aaron Rodgers GIF, explained
Rodgers has become known for many things in his career. Everyone knows that he used to have a rocket for an arm and could fit footballs into small windows at will. He has the seventh-most passing yards in NFL history, and with a solid season could move behind or ahead of former Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
But, something that doesn’t show up on the stat sheet is Rodgers’ ability to get the defense to jump offsides and to capitalize on a big free play. The quarterback will get them to jump, then loft a ball down the field for his wide receiver to get, and it has a surprising success rate.
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The Packers were taking on the Steelers in Week 4 of 2021. In the second quarter, Rodgers hurried to the line to try to catch the defense off guard and draw them offsides, but Tomlin was ready for it. The Pittsburgh head coach called a timeout, and Rodgers looked to the sideline to give him a smile and nod out of respect.
Aaron Rodgers and Mike Tomlin. Pals. pic.twitter.com/gA6BbbPxAA
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) October 3, 2021
Even though Tomlin had the quarterback scouted for that play, it was Rodgers who had the last laugh. He led Green Bay to a 27-17 win over Pittsburgh. Rodgers will look to now pull off his offsides trick against his former team as the Steelers host the Packers in Week 8 of the 2025 NFL season.
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