Steelers legend Jerome Bettis says there's 'excitement in the air' as Aaron Rodgers returns for final season

Pittsburgh Steelers fable Jerome Bettis got what helium was hoping for: Aaron Rodgers to play 1 much play successful the achromatic and gold.

The Steelers officially signed Rodgers to a one-year woody worthy up to $25 cardinal past week, and Bettis said determination is excitement successful the air.

"It was hoped, not needfully expected, was hoped that helium would see coming backmost for 1 much year. Now it's an excitement successful the aerial evidently knowing that it is his past twelvemonth arsenic well. We're successful that abstraction wherever we're excited astir the upcoming season," Bettis told Fox News Digital.

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Aaron Rodgers of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates aft an NFL crippled against the Baltimore Ravens astatine Acrisure Stadium successful Pittsburgh, Pa., connected Jan. 4, 2026. (Michael Owens/Getty Images)

Rodgers told reporters that this upcoming play volition beryllium the last play of his illustrious career. Bettis said that the Steelers privation to nonstop him disconnected connected a precocious note, and they privation to person a large play too.

"You privation to nonstop him disconnected well, but you besides privation to person a large play and look guardant to the future. So, there's a batch of excitement astir Aaron coming backmost for his past year," Bettis said.

Last play was Rodgers’ archetypal with the Steelers, and helium started 16 games portion missing 1 owed to injury. The four-time NFL MVP proved helium inactive had immoderate foodstuff near successful the tank, completing 65.7% of his passes for 3,322 yards with 24 touchdowns and 7 interceptions.

Before the Steelers signed Rodgers, they drafted Penn State backmost Drew Allar successful the 3rd circular of the 2026 NFL Draft. They besides person Will Howard and Mason Rudolph arsenic their backup quarterbacks.

Bettis is 1 of the champion moving backs successful Steelers history. Nicknamed "The Bus," Bettis is successful the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

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Pittsburgh Steelers backmost Aaron Rodgers drops backmost to walk against the Baltimore Ravens during the archetypal fractional astatine Acrisure Stadium successful Pittsburgh, Pa., connected Jan. 4, 2026. (GETTY)

In 13 seasons successful the NFL, with the past 10 with the Steelers, Bettis ran for 13,662 yards and 91 touchdowns portion catching 200 passes for 1,449 yards and 3 touchdowns. He was an integral portion of the Steelers’ Super Bowl XL triumph implicit the Seattle Seahawks, arsenic helium ran for 3 touchdowns during their playoff run.

American Century Championship

Bettis volition beryllium playing successful the American Century Tournament from July 10-12 astatine Edgewood Golf Course successful Lake Tahoe.

The tourney has raised much than $8 cardinal for determination and nationalist charities. American Century Investments donates 40% of its profits to the Stowers Institute for Medical Research and activates fundraising astatine the tourney to thrust nonstop donations to Stowers each year.

Bettis has been a longtime rival successful the tourney since retiring successful 2006. He said it has been "incredible" to spot the lawsuit turn implicit the years.

The Pro Football Hall of Famer said helium is inactive trying to circular into signifier for the tournament. Bettis said helium is trying a caller plaything and is wondering however it volition clasp up.

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Jerome Bettis speaks connected SiriusXM during Super Bowl LIX successful New Orleans, La., connected Feb. 5, 2025. (Cindy Ord/Getty Images)

Bettis said his favourite portion of the tourney is interacting with the athletes and having amusive with the guys.

"I deliberation the favourite portion is truly getting to chop it up with the athletes due to the fact that evidently being retired, you don't get the accidental to bash that anymore. And so, erstwhile you bash get a accidental to benignant of rib guys and person amusive with guys similar that locker country acquisition again, it's truly amusive and exhilarating," Bettis said.

The tourney volition beryllium broadcast connected NBC and Peacock.

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