Aaron Rodgers Fires Back After Terry Bradshaw Criticism

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers fired back after the team's Pro Football Hall of Fame former quarterback Terry Bradshaw criticized the team's decision to pursue him earlier this year.

Bradshaw, 76, who led the Steelers to four of the franchise's six Super Bowl victories in the 1970s, called the team's public interest in Rodgers "a joke" just prior to an official agreement in June.

“I’ve known Terry for a long time, being a part of Fox,” Rodgers said. “Terry’s a legend. He’s an absolute legend. He won four Super Bowls. He’s had a legendary career in the media. But Terry, like a lot of people, doesn’t know me. So he’s got an idea of what he thinks about me based on what I’ve done, the documentary, what I’ve said, darkness retreat, whatever the hell you want to talk about.”

Rodgers agreed to a one-year deal with the Steelers to return for his 21st NFL season last month. The four-time NFL MVP had previously hinted at the Steelers, the long presumed favorite to land him, when he mentioned there was "a team that might play in Chicago this year," referencing the Steelers' road game against the Bears in 2025 during a recent Q&A session in August, Texas.

Rodgers spent the past two seasons with the New York Jets prior to the team's decision to move on from him this past offseason. The 41-year-old was acquired in a trade with the Green Bay Packers in 2023 and pegged to be the missing piece for a team that hadn't made a postseason appearance since 2010.

Rodgers suffered a season-ending Achilles injury during his first drive with the Jets in 2023 and experienced one of the worst seasons of his career in 2024, leading the team to a 5-12 record.