An added bonus to the Steelers signing quarterback Aaron Rodgers is defensive coordinator Teryl Austin no longer has to contend with the four-time NFL MVP from the opposite sideline.
Austin has had enough of that over the years.
"He's a pain in the (butt)," Austin maintained.
It was a term of respect and endearment.
"He can get rid of the ball quickly if you're bringing pressure," Austin continued on the first day of Mandatory Veteran Minicamp, Rodgers' first on-the-field experience at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. "He knows if you're not bringing pressure that he can hold it and he can wait for some things to develop, really sharp. I remember going against him, when I was in Detroit for four years it was all the time and it's always a challenge.
Take a look at photos from Aaron Rodgers' first practice as a Pittsburgh Steeler
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) practices at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex during the 2025 minicamp, Tuesday June 10, 2025. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) practices at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex during the 2025 minicamp, Tuesday June 10, 2025. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) practices at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex during the 2025 minicamp, Tuesday June 10, 2025. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) practices at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex during the 2025 minicamp, Tuesday June 10, 2025. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) practices at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex during the 2025 minicamp, Tuesday June 10, 2025. (Taylor Ollason/ Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) practices at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex during the 2025 minicamp, Tuesday June 10, 2025. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) practices at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex during the 2025 minicamp, Tuesday June 10, 2025. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) practices at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex during the 2025 minicamp, Tuesday June 10, 2025. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) practices at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex during the 2025 minicamp, Tuesday June 10, 2025. (Taylor Ollason/ Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) practices at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex during the 2025 minicamp, Tuesday June 10, 2025. (Taylor Ollason/ Pittsburgh Steelers)
The media at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex during the 2025 minicamp, Tuesday June 10, 2025. (Taylor Ollason/ Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) during media availability following practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex during the 2025 minicamp, Tuesday June 10, 2025. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) during media availability following practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex during the 2025 minicamp, Tuesday June 10, 2025. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) during media availability following practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex during the 2025 minicamp, Tuesday June 10, 2025. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) during media availability following practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex during the 2025 minicamp, Tuesday June 10, 2025. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) during media availability following practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex during the 2025 minicamp, Tuesday June 10, 2025. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) during media availability following practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex during the 2025 minicamp, Tuesday June 10, 2025. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) during media availability following practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex during the 2025 minicamp, Tuesday June 10, 2025. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) during media availability following practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex during the 2025 minicamp, Tuesday June 10, 2025. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) during media availability following practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex during the 2025 minicamp, Tuesday June 10, 2025. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) practices at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex during the 2025 minicamp, Tuesday June 10, 2025. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) practices at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex during the 2025 minicamp, Tuesday June 10, 2025. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) practices at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex during the 2025 minicamp, Tuesday June 10, 2025. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) practices at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex during the 2025 minicamp, Tuesday June 10, 2025. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) practices at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex during the 2025 minicamp, Tuesday June 10, 2025. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) practices at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex during the 2025 minicamp, Tuesday June 10, 2025. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) practices at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex during the 2025 minicamp, Tuesday June 10, 2025. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) practices at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex during the 2025 minicamp, Tuesday June 10, 2025. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) practices at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex during the 2025 minicamp, Tuesday June 10, 2025. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) practices at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex during the 2025 minicamp, Tuesday June 10, 2025. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) practices at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex during the 2025 minicamp, Tuesday June 10, 2025. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) practices at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex during the 2025 minicamp, Tuesday June 10, 2025. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) practices at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex during the 2025 minicamp, Tuesday June 10, 2025. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)
"He's a great player in terms of he can spin the ball. He knows who to get it to and so he always presents challenges that way."
Austin knows Rodgers, at 41, isn't the player Austin confronted twice a season as the defensive coordinator of the Lions from 2014-17, four of the 18 seasons Rodgers worked his quarterback magic for the Packers.
But the Rodgers who led the Jets into Acrisure Stadium last season was and remains a formidable foe, in Austin's estimation.
"I think the only thing that's probably really changed is he's not running as much in terms of trying to get away," Austin assessed. "When he was younger you'd be scared to play some man-under defenses because he'd get out of the pocket and he could beat you with his legs. He's probably more selective in terms of running that way.
"I don't see any drop off in terms of accuracy, in terms of ball speed, in terms of how he spins it."
Other subjects Austin addressed included:
-The absence of outside linebacker T.J. Watt, who is seeking a contract extension: "We're gonna keep preparing and moving ahead. We expect him back at some point and he'll get caught up fast. He'll be in great shape like he always is, so no worries. I think it's actually a great opportunity for our young guys to get more reps and see what they can do in good-on-good competition."
-Whether Austin keeps in touch with Watt: "Yeah, we always do. He's handling his business, he's doing his thing. We've touched base a few times this summer but it's not about the football stuff. I'm just seeing how he's doing, how his family's doing, new baby, all that good stuff. When T.J. shows up he'll be ready to go."
-Anticipated defensive changes in the wake of the collapse late last season: "We're gonna try to do some different things to make sure we have the bodies in the right place to help ourselves, because obviously we didn't like how we finished the year. Obviously, the drafting of the big guys up front (first-round defensive tackle Derrick Harmon, fourth-round outside linebacker Jack Sawyer and fifth-round defensive lineman Yahya Black) is also a testament that what we need to do, we need to get a little bit bigger and younger up front. We're gonna try to put all those things together to be more solid down the stretch and be better.
"We had a Baltimore problem last year, there's no other way to get around it. They ran the ball down our throats and we have to fix that if we want to contend in this division. We just got our butts kicked (by the Ravens in the playoffs). You give them credit, and we didn't do a good enough job and it started with me. The things we looked at and tried to address coming into the offseason is making some schematic changes that we'll do and some personnel changes that we did."
-Whether second-year inside linebacker Payton Wilson has the potential to be a three-down inside linebacker this season after playing in sub-packages as a rookie: "Absolutely. His willingness to learn and understand that he was a little deficient in terms of coming downhill and taking on blocks, he didn't really have to do that much in college. He got better as the year went on last year and he knows that's an area to work on. I think you have a really conscientious player who has the work ethic and the drive to do it. He'll get it done."
