Should Aaron Rodgers eventually sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers, he’ll like the freedom head coach Mike Tomlin gives him. He is an old-school veteran who grew up calling his own plays, and former Steelers offensive lineman Ryan Harris offered a preview into what Rodgers’ time with the team might look like.
“I do know from playing with Ben Roethlisberger,” Harris told Denver’s KOA Sports Tuesday morning. “Mike Tomlin is an incredible of a head coach as you’ll ever find. He is the most hands-off with a quarterback I’ve ever been around. ‘Whatever you want to do.'”
Harris, now retired, played for Pittsburgh during the 2016 season though his time was cut short by injury, retiring after the year. Still, he was in the building and saw the dynamic between Roethlisberger and Tomlin. At the time, it was the only starting quarterback Tomlin had ever had and he gave him full latitude to run the offense his way.
“They would literally give Ben Roethlisberger, the install would be. ‘Hey Ben, for third down, we like these five plays. You just let us know what you’re picking.,” Harris said.
It’s not uncommon for teams to tailor their play calls to what quarterbacks prefer. Coordinators often go over game plans with quarterbacks and determine which calls they’re most comfortable with. But Harris was an NFL veteran who spent time in plenty of locker rooms. Pittsburgh did things differently.
“If you’re Aaron Rodgers, that’s what you want,” Harris said of the environment Tomlin would provide.
In fairness, Harris’ view into Tomlin’s style was a limited one. Roethlisberger and Tomlin had worked together for a decade, a rarity in the NFL, and an element that created plenty of trust between the two. Things may be different in the post-Roethlisberger era, even for a veteran like Rodgers who would be brand new to the team and system.
It’s clear Pittsburgh has put up larger guardrails since for rookies like Kenny Pickett but even veterans like Justin Fields and Russell Wilson. Arguably to the team’s detriment, an offense overly cautious to protect the football. Perhaps signing Rodgers, cut from the Roethlisberger cloth, would loosen Tomlin and the Steelers up.
