Former Packers coach opens up about relationship between Steelers' Mike McCarthy, Aaron Rodgers

Local and national analysts continue to suggest that the relationship between recently hired Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy and 42-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers will result in Rodgers returning to play a second and final season with the Steelers. 

Rodgers first had McCarthy as a head coach with the Green Bay Packers from 2006 through a portion of the 2018 campaign. During that time, Luke Getsy worked with Rodgers while on McCarthy's staff. 

On a recent edition of the "Kaboly and Mack" podcast, Getsy touched upon what McCarthy has meant to Rodgers during the future Hall of Famer's playing career. 

Aaron Rodgers has a "very strong" belief in Mike McCarthy

"You've got to remember that Mike groomed Aaron from the beginning," Getsy explained, per Matthew Marczi of Steelers Depot. "Aaron had an absolute conviction and belief in what Mike was teaching. The processes, the quarterback fundamentals, all of that is ingrained in Aaron, and Aaron believes in it. ...The belief in what Mike teaches is very strong." 

McCarthy wanting to enter the summer with Rodgers atop the Pittsburgh depth chart makes sense if only because of who else is on the roster. Mason Rudolph is a longtime backup, while 2025 sixth-round draft pick Will Howard has thus far done nothing during a regular-season game at the highest level. Additionally, no clear upgrade will be available to Pittsburgh if Rodgers hits free agency when the new league year opens in March. 

Could Mike McCarthy "push" Aaron Rodgers to turn the clock back with Steelers?

Some have wondered if Rodgers could look to join a team he feels has a better roster than what Pittsburgh will possess this coming March. That said, it sounds like Rodgers could believe that whatever he has left of his best self could essentially be dragged out of him by McCarthy.

"I think there's always, when you have that level of education in two different people, the conversations are just unbelievable," Getsy said about the interactions he saw involving Rodgers and McCarthy. "Sometimes you push each other, and sometimes it's like, they can say something or know what each other's thinking without even having to say something." 

The Steelers allegedly want to know by "early March" at the latest if Rodgers will re-sign with them this offseason. Thus, McCarthy still has time to work on convincing Rodgers to return to the Steel City before the club may explore other options at the position.