The Pittsburgh Steelers brought Aaron Rodgers to the Steel City in 2025 after nearly all of his legendary NFL career had already been written elsewhere. With 2026 expected to be his final season, Pittsburgh is benefiting from the experience and competitive edge he developed long before wearing black and gold.
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Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers looks down at his play sheet while he watches practice in street clothes as the team works out during 2025 training camp at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
Much of that history was created in Green Bay, where Rodgers played under Matt LaFleur from 2019 through 2022. Their partnership helped the Packers reach consecutive NFC Championship Games while Rodgers captured back-to-back MVP awards in 2020 and 2021.
That shared success gives LaFleur a qualified perspective on Rodgers' greatness. It also makes his latest assessment of Jordan Love difficult to ignore. Love spent three seasons learning behind Rodgers before taking control of Green Bay's offense.
Love has developed into a successful quarterback, but favorably comparing any part of his game to Rodgers remains a massive statement. During a recent appearance on NFL Network, LaFleur identified one crucial area where he believes Love may have surpassed every quarterback he has coached.
"He's gotta be the best I have ever been around in terms of protections and adjustments, and rarely does he get out-schemed," LaFleur said while speaking about Love on NFL Network. "It's pretty remarkable. That was all foreign to him coming into the league. I think having the opportunity to sit back and learn from Aaron, at the level he did it, was invaluable."
LaFleur did not declare Love a better overall quarterback than Rodgers. He specifically highlighted Love's command of protections, adjustments, and everything happening before the football is snapped.
That distinction matters, but it does not completely remove the sting. Rodgers has built much of his reputation around his intelligence, ability to diagnose defenses, manipulate opponents, and control situations at the line of scrimmage. Claiming Love is better in any category involving the mental side of quarterback play is significant.
LaFleur also knew exactly how his former quarterback might receive the compliment. Instead of avoiding the obvious comparison, he directly acknowledged that Rodgers may not appreciate hearing it.
"Aaron is going to get mad about this," LaFleur said. "But it's uncanny what [Love] can do at the line of scrimmage with our protection adjustments."
That sentence gave the entire discussion some extra heat. LaFleur seemingly understands Rodgers well enough to know that even a narrow comparison could activate his competitive side. Rodgers would probably hear the remark, chuckle, and privately wonder what LaFleur knows anyway.
Still, LaFleur's acknowledgment made the comment feel slightly disrespectful. Love has played well, but Rodgers has spent more than two decades solving NFL defenses while producing one of the greatest quarterback careers the league has ever witnessed. Declaring Love superior in this area feels premature.
LaFleur's larger point is fair. Love received an invaluable developmental advantage by sitting behind Rodgers instead of being immediately forced to rescue the Packers. He was allowed to study protections, absorb Rodgers' habits, and make mistakes away from the pressure attached to starting games.
Former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has emphasized on several occasions how important that patience was for Love.
Steelers Could Benefit From Rodgers Hearing LaFleur's Bold Comparison
Rodgers is likely too established to require outside motivation at this stage of his career. However, competitors remember comments like this, especially when they come from someone who witnessed their greatness up close. Rodgers is built that way.
The Steelers do not need Rodgers to enter 2026 chasing Love or attempting to settle an old Green Bay debate. They need him controlling the offense, protecting the football, and using 21 years of accumulated knowledge to keep Pittsburgh from being out-schemed.
Karl Roster / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers lines up under center during Pittsburgh's 29-24 win over the Detroit Lions in Week 16 of the 2025 NFL regular season.
LaFleur gave Love extraordinary praise, but it remains far too early to place him above Rodgers in such an important category. If the comment produces even a small additional spark inside Pittsburgh's quarterback, Steeler Nation may ultimately appreciate that LaFleur said it publicly.
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