The Pittsburgh Steelers are going to be led by quarterback Aaron Rodgers once again during the 2026 season. There was some skepticism about whether or not he would be returning to the franchise after being the starter for the 2025 season, but the quarterback finally made it official by re-signing just before the start of Organized Team Activities (OTAs). He has been a polarizing figure throughout his professional career, but he has been pleasant throughout his time in Pittsburgh and he has stayed out of the headlines for the most part. In the past, he has made waves by publicly calling out teammates and things of that nature.
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Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers speaks to the media in 2025.
Rodgers has always expected a lot out of his wide receivers, and these are typically the players he has been critical of after games and at other times. During his final season with the New York Jets in 2024, he publicly called out wide receiver Mike Williams after a game during a press conference, and that moment went viral as many fans were critical of Rodgers deciding to do that. He expects a lot, and he doesn't want players on the field that he cannot trust. It has been speculated that this was a big reason that Roman Wilson barely saw playing time in 2025.
All of this made fans worry a little bit when it came to the Steelers drafting a rookie wide receiver. With Rodgers still at quarterback, there would be no telling of what his relationship might be with a rookie wideout, but things seem to be going well so far with Germie Bernard. The young player was asked about their relationship after practice on Wednesday.
"It's been a blessing to be able to learn from him," Bernard said. "Asking him as many questions as I can, taking all the critiques and learning from them so I won't make the same mistakes. So we can build that trust and so he can trust me on game day to make the plays. He wants to build trust and so he challenges you. He's been challenging me. I just ask questions and I accept the challenge. I just continue to ask him questions and continue to learn."
Bernard seems to be approaching his relationship with the legendary quarterback with the right mindset. He is open to criticism, and he just has a clear willingness to improve every day. Rodgers and Bernard have had an open form of communication, and hopefully that means the two will be on the same page when the regular season rolls around.
Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Germie Bernard catches a pass during Phase Two of offseason workouts in 2026.
The Steelers have a history of not using rookies too much on offense, but that doesn't seem like it will be the case with Bernard. He can play in the slot and on the outside, which is only going to help him get on the field. If his relationship with Rodgers gets stronger and the trust between the two continues to grow, the veteran quarterback should be lobbying for a player like Bernard to be in the game.
Steelers' WR3 Battle Already Seems To Be Heading In One Direction
DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. are clearly the top two guys for the Steelers at wide receiver, and the number three spot is up for grabs between Bernard and Wilson. Bernard has been highly praised by nearly everyone within the organization, and he seems to be trending towards being a high-impact contributor during his rookie season.
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Steelers rookie wide receiver Germie Bernard participates in team rookie minicamp at Steelers facilities in May of 2026.
No position battle is going to come to a close during OTAs, and things won't really heat up until training camp. However, it is hard to imagine Wilson could edge out Bernard. Bernard has a fresh relationship with Rodgers and has already begun building trust with him, which is something Wilson seemingly had none of in 2025.
What do you think of Bernard's comments on his relationship with Rodgers? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!
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