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In 2005, the Pittsburgh Steelers expected legendary running back Jerome Bettis to walk away from the game. However, after falling just one win short of a Super Bowl appearance, Bettis decided to return for one more run. One of the most memorable clips from before that season features Hines Ward speaking with reporters and hoping Bettis would come back. That same year, the Green Bay Packers drafted Aaron Rodgers. Now, 21 years later, Rodgers has decided to return for one more season with the Steelers. Ward knows what it takes to do everything possible for a legend’s final year, and he might see some similarities between the current Steelers roster and the team he played on two decades ago.
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Ward joined the Yinziders podcast to discuss the Steelers’ upcoming season. When asked what it would take to give Rodgers one more opportunity to make a deep playoff run, Ward pointed to Rodgers himself as a source of motivation.
“I think a lot of guys want to not just play for themselves. They want to play for Aaron … They don’t want to be that guy to be like, ‘Oh man, I made a mistake’, or ‘I did this’, or ‘I wish I would’ve done that.’ You don’t want to be that guy on Aaron’s last run.” Ward said.
Ward knows what the Steelers need to do to give Rodgers one last run
Ward witnessed the journey the Steelers took to get Bettis a Super Bowl before he retired. The entire roster came together and endured a true roller coaster of a season. At one point, many considered them dead in the water. Everyone knows how that story ended. Ward understands that talent alone will not get a team to the finish line. It takes a strong bond, a shared purpose, and a commitment to winning to go the distance.
“He knows what it takes to win,” Ward said. “Talent can only take you so far. At some point, you’ve got to come together as a unit … It’s got to be a lot of selfless faces just doing whatever it takes to win games.”
Rodgers enters his final NFL season and has already earned the respect of his teammates. There is no doubt he will want to make the most of this opportunity. Now, his teammates must help him overcome the challenge ahead.
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Rodgers reuniting with the head coach he won a Super Bowl with certainly adds to the opportunity. It will be a challenge worth embracing. However, Rodgers is not the only player who could benefit from one more push toward a storybook ending.
Multiple Steelers veterans need this final run with Rodgers
Several Steelers veterans are also approaching the later stages of their careers. Players like Cam Heyward, T.J. Watt, and Jalen Ramsey could further define their legacies with one final championship push alongside Rodgers. While Ramsey already owns a Super Bowl ring from 2021, Watt and Heyward have not advanced beyond the wild-card round this decade. They are undoubtedly just as motivated to make a deep postseason run.
Are the Steelers legitimate Super Bowl contenders? Unlike the 2005 team entering its season, this Steelers squad does not have that same perception. While some believe they have a legitimate chance, the transition in coaching leadership and a decade of postseason struggles make it difficult to envision.
Perhaps this team can follow the same path Ward and his Steelers teammates took 21 years ago.
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This story was originally published July 14, 2026 at 5:00 AM.