Ex-Steelers player reveals 'hard' treatment from Aaron Rodgers before trade

05:00 ET, 03 Sep 2026Updated 05:01 ET, 03 Sep 2026

New Green Bay Packers running back Kaleb Johnson laughed when asked about the difficulties and complexities of being in Aaron Rodgers' offense during his time with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Johnson was traded from the Steelers to the Packers this week after the team learned they'd be without starting running back Josh Jacobs, after he was placed on the commissioner's exempt list. Jacobs has been charged with multiple criminal offenses and is scheduled to appear in court in November.

Johnson spent his rookie season with the Steelers, playing with Rodgers, a quarterback known for putting a lot on his offensive skill players' plates and having them learn his audibles at the line of scrimmage.

Speaking to reporters for the first time after he was traded to the Packers, Johnson was full of praise for Rodgers.

He said, "I learned a lot from him. It was just, overall, the little things he always talked about. I'll be messing up on it, he'll come talk to me about it, and the play would go on, I remember it, and he'll slap my ears, slap my hands, 'good job.'"

Rodgers has long had a reputation for not putting faith in young players, especially rookies.

Throughout his career, several receivers remained on his team for a long time due to his good rapport and understanding, with the quarterback running a complex system while constantly looking to call audibles seconds before the play.

When rookies have not been on the same page as him, Rodgers has not been afraid to let them know it.

Speaking on whether that's something Johnson became used to at the Steelers, Johnson said: "Very, very. I experienced it during training camp, so I know."

It's not only rookies who have found Rodgers' offense difficult, but even former All-Pro, veteran receivers.

Adam Thielen joined the Steelers in the latter weeks of last season, before retiring after 13 years in the league.

Thielen had to pick up the Steelers' offense quickly, openly admitting he struggled and that playing with Rodgers left him 'stressed'.

Speaking on ESPN's NFL Live, Thielen said: "I've never been more stressed in my life than practices with Aaron Rodgers. I'm in the game, and I don't know what the defense is doing because I have to have my eyes on Aaron the whole time because he could throw down a hand signal at any second right before he says 'set hut'.

"It's the most stressed I've been in my entire career. I felt like I was a rookie again.

"I don't know what he's going to say, and I hope I know what he says, cause if I don't, I'm going to get my butt chewed and I'm never going to get the ball. So I better lock in every second of every day, or he's going to rip me apart."