In the NFL’s highly-structured offseason, it’s hard to be ahead of schedule. But this year, the Steelers offense is slightly ahead of where it was in 2025.
Last spring, starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers didn’t sign with the Steelers until June, missing organized team actives (OTAs) entirely. But in 2026, while Rodgers still took some time to make up his mind on an NFL return, he signed ahead of the Steelers’ first OTA in May.
“Great,” wide receiver DK Metcalf said in a media session Thursday when
asked about Rodgers’ arrival. “Last year was kind of a late start for everybody. Having him two weeks before mandatory (minicamp) means a lot. We can get a lot of reps under our belt.”
Metcalf repeatedly emphasized how he hopes to improve his chemistry in Rodgers in Year 2.
“We already know how he is on the field, in the classroom,” he said. “But just the chemistry on the field — we can take the next step.”
Rookie wide receiver Germie Bernard was also asked about how his experience has been with the veteran quarterback. Rodgers is known for having high expectations for his receivers.
“He’s a guy, he wants to built trust,” Bernard said of Rodgers. “He challenges you. He’s been challenging me and I just ask question and accept the challenge. … I continue to learn, and he’s gonna critique and I just want to be better to know we can execute when the game comes.”
But Bernard has also impressed the Steelers’ veterans to start the offseason.
“Just how he is as a person,” Metcalf said of the rookie. “Always willing to learn, never has anything smart to say. Always just says, ‘Yes sir’ and just keeps pushing. For a guy of his stature, coming into the league like that, that’s all you can ask for.”
Bernard was equally happy with how his OTAs have gone so far.
“I feel great about it, man,” he said. “This is something that I dreamed of. Coming in and knowing what to do and being challenged, that’s something that I take wholeheartedly because that means that they trust me and they want me to have some type of role in the team.”
