2 decades after Brett Favre downplayed mentoring him, Aaron Rodgers embraces leading young Steelers QBs

Chris Adamski TribLive Wed, May 20, 2026 • 03:45 PM

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterbacks Drew Allar (left No. 16), Mason Rudolph (No. 2) and Will Howard (No. 18) look on with quarterback coach Tom Arth (between Rudolph and Howard), head coach Mike McCarthy (in cap) and senior offensive assistant Frank Cignetti Jr. during an organized team activities practice Wednesday at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. (Chaz Palla | TribLive)

For the up to $25 million they are paying him for the 2026 season, Aaron Rodgers’ primary responsibility is helping the Pittsburgh Steelers win as many games as possible.

But that the organization is trying to groom two young possible replacements for him, does the 42-year-old Rodgers see it as his part of his role to mentor quarterbacks Will Howard and Drew Allar?

“To coin a phrase after a guy that I followed,” Rodgers said Wednesday, “‘it’s not in my job description.’”

Rodgers smiled. He was making a not-so-subtle reference to the future Hall of Fame quarterback he succeeded with the Green Bay Packers almost two decades ago, Brett Favre.

Favre – then a three-time NFL MVP – in 2005 after the Green Bay Packers drafted Rodgers famously said: “My contract doesn’t say I have to get Aaron Rodgers ready to play. Now, hopefully, he watches me and gets something from that.”

Rodgers ultimately succeeded Favre and would go on to win a record four MVPs himself. But by his 16^th NFL season, the Packers (again) spent a first-round pick on another replacement for their newest future Hall of Fame quarterback.

When that happened in 2020, Favre said during a radio interview: “Aaron’s job is not to mentor Jordan Love. Aaron’s job is to win football games for the Green Bay Packers.”

Rodgers was 36 at the time, and three years later would be traded to the New York Jets. He joined the Steelers last year and by all accounts had a fantastic relationship with then-rookie sixth-round pick Will Howard.

Last month, then, the Steelers drafted another developmental QB – Penn State’s Drew Allar – in the third round.

Rodgers after Wednesday’s organized team activities practice session indicated he would embrace spending what he said would be his final NFL season helping aid in the development of two young NFL quarterbacks.

“I think it’s a great opportunity, for sure, to be able to mentor those guys,” Rodgers said. “It means a lot to me (that with) all the backups I’ve had over the years (I have) a lot of good relationships still to this day with those guys. (After) the fun I had with Will last year, I’ll try and mentor Drew as much as he wants me to while I keep staying on Will.”