When Mike McCarthy split with the Green Bay Packers, there were plenty of questions about his relationship with quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The two were reportedly at odds during McCarthy’s final few years with the franchise, ultimately contributing to his exit after the 2018 season.
But when the Steelers hired McCarthy in 2026, it became evident whatever happened in Green Bay was water under the bridge. Rodgers decided to return to Pittsburgh for another season, and cited McCarthy as one of the major reasons the quarterback decided to give it one more go.
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In case you doubted Rodgers’ sincerity in that moment, he proved Sunday that his relationship with McCarthy is as strong as ever.
Following the Steelers’ win over the Atlanta Falcons in Week 1, Rodgers presented McCarthy with a game ball for the coach picking up his first-ever win with the franchise.
The two shared a hug in the locker room after Rodgers’ speech.
As Rodgers noted, it was a special victory for McCarthy, who was born in Pennsylvania. The coach got emotional before addressing that connection during his introductory press conference with the team.
Following Sunday’s win, McCarthy once again made reference to his feelings, calling it an “emotional day.“
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It wasn’t a dominant victory, as the Steelers won 20-13 against the Falcons despite Atlanta leaning on backup quarterback Cooper Rush. Pittsburgh’s offense put up modest numbers, with Rodgers tossing one touchdown in the win. The team’s defense, as usual, performed well, scoring a touchdown of its own and limiting the Falcons to just one TD during the contest.
While it was an encouraging start to the season, the Steelers will face a bigger test in Week 2, when the team squares off against the New England Patriots. A win in that game would go a long way toward establishing the Steelers as a strong contender in the AFC a year after the team was lucky to make the playoffs.
