Aaron Rodgers challenges Steelers OL after hit on another QB: 'Don't you ever let that happen again'

Aaron Rodgers is embracing every facet of being a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and that includes being one of the main leaders of an otherwise young offensive unit. Rodgers recently issued a challenge to his offensive line after he watched fellow quarterback Skylar Thompson fall to the ground after being hit. 

"I walked out there, like, 'what the hell just happened?'" Rodgers said on teammate Cam Heyward's podcast. "I told the line, 'Don't you ever let that happen again.' I said, 'We gotta protect each other. You guys are the policemen out there on the field. You're the big brothers out there. You protect everybody, from DK [Metcalf] to me to whoever's in there at quarterback, whoever's in their at running back. I don't care if it's preseason practice, whatever, you gotta protect them.'

"And the next time something happened, about a week later, what happened? Zach [Frazier] was in there. Pat [Freiermuth] was in there. Mason [McCormick] is in there. And then I saw Troy [Fautanu] going in there, and then Spencer [Anderson], and I was like, 'that's what it looks like.' And I'm not talking about instigating fights. I'm just talking about backing your brothers up so they know on the field, don't f--- with us. There's something powerful to that." 

Rodgers' story is an example of how his teammates have responded to his presence and leadership style since the four-time league MVP officially joined the team less than three months ago. Pittsburgh's young offensive players are eager to earn Rodgers' approval while helping him finish his Hall of Fame career on a good note. 

As a 21-year NFL veteran, Rodgers said that he naturally considers himself a leader and someone that should speak up if he feels that anything needs addressed within the team. But Rodgers doesn't feel that he is the leader when it comes to the Steelers' offense. In fact, Rodgers said that the success of the Steelers' offense this season will largely depend on the leadership growth of some of his younger teammates. 

"When we're going to take off as an offense is when those young guys start to figure it out and realize, 'Oh, I can be a leader,'" Rodgers said. "That doesn't mean I've got to step outside of myself personality wise, but maybe just give a little bit more to this thing. I think it's going to going to help us take off. And I'm talking about guys like Jaylen Warren and Kenny [Gainwell] and [Connor Heyward], who does everything right and cares about it so much. Darnell [Washington] and Pat [Freiermuth], and Broderick [Jones] stepping up and being the stud that he is. 

"When those guys really tap into their power -- and I think we've seen some growth in those guys -- we have the opportunity to be a special offense."