Steelers’ DeShon Elliott Blasts Aaron Rodgers After Long-Running Tensions

When the Pittsburgh Steelers finalized their blockbuster move to bring in Aaron Rodgers, fans expected big headlines — but they didn’t expect an offseason Instagram comment from a current teammate to resurface and steal part of the spotlight.

Back in February, before he was even on the Steelers roster, safety DeShon Elliott reacted to early rumors linking Rodgers to Pittsburgh with a blunt post: “Leave his ass at the retirement home.” At the time, Rodgers was still under contract with the New York Jets and the idea of the four-time MVP joining the Steelers was just offseason chatter. Fast forward to August 2025 — both men are now wearing black and gold.

The old comment quickly went viral again once Rodgers’ signing was official, sparking a mix of amusement and concern among Steelers Nation. Some fans applauded Elliott for “keeping it real” months ago, while others warned that past words could create tension in a locker room now built around its new quarterback. “This is why receipts always come back,” one fan wrote. “They better figure it out fast — the season waits for no one.”

Elliott has since clarified that the remark was more of a joke than a genuine attack, noting that he and Rodgers have actually trained together in Los Angeles. No formal apology has been issued, and Rodgers has yet to respond publicly. For head coach Mike Tomlin, who has built a reputation for managing strong personalities, any potential rift will likely be handled behind closed doors.

Both players now have the chance to let their actions speak louder than words. Elliott, known for his physical style and veteran presence in the secondary, will be expected to help anchor a defense that could carry this team deep into the postseason. Rodgers, at 41 and coming off a major injury, has little interest in social media noise — his focus is on proving he can still lead a contender.

As one fan summed it up: “This is Pittsburgh. We don’t have time for drama — we need wins.” And in the NFL, championships aren’t decided by what’s said in February. They’re decided by what’s done from September through February.