Pittsburgh Steelers rookie Germie Bernard risked upsetting his new quarterback Aaron Rodgers by joking: ‘He might be older than my mom.’
Bernard, 22, is making a splash in Steelers training camp after being drafted in the second round of the NFL Draft. He is looking to carve out a role in Rodgers’ offense as the quarterback, 42, enters his final season in the league.
But despite the need for chemistry on and off the field, Bernard could not resist a harsh dig at the age gap between the pair.
Speaking on the Not Just Football with Cam Heyward podcast, Bernard said: ‘I’m 22. He’s been playing for that long. I think he might be older than my mom.’
Rodgers is entering his 22nd NFL season, but has confirmed it will be his last. And he reiterated to reporters at training camp this month there is ‘zero debate’ about his decision.
‘I thought last year might be it,’ Rodgers said. ‘And then Mike [McCarthy] got hired, and I talked to the wife and she said, ‘You can do one more year.’ I said, ‘Well, we’ll see if it works out.’ And then it kind of all came together.’
Germie Bernard (left) joked that his quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ might be older than his mom’
Bernard has got off to an impressive start with the Steelers in preseason after being drafted
Aaron Rodgers is entering his final year in the NFL at the age of 42 before he retires
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Bernard admitted that Rodgers’ presence gives him ‘anxiety’ in his first experience in the NFL as he continues to learn the ropes from one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time.
‘I’m not going to lie. I lowkey be having a little bit of anxiety when I’m out there with him,’ Bernard told Heyward of Rodgers. ‘Just because I don’t really want to mess up… but at the same time, I enjoy being there with him and being under him.
‘He’s just teaching me the game. He’s giving me all the knowledge he knows about the game.’
Rodgers also sees something in Bernard, publicly praising him in training camp by declaring: ‘I think he’s got a really bright future.’
‘I think it’s 90% mental,’ Rodgers continued. ‘Even the fastest, most athletic guys, if you don’t know what you’re doing completely, you’re going to play slower.
‘And Germie just needs to learn the offense inside and out. When he does that, he has a lot of great physical traits. He can get his feet in the ground quickly. He’s very sudden. He’s got natural hands.
‘He’s a great kid. I mean, I think he’s got a really bright future because his attitude, his approach, his practice habits are phenomenal.’
Bernard previously credited his mom and dad with instilling the work ethic that has impressed Rodgers. In April 2023, he shared an Instagram post showing him pictured with his parents.
He wrote: ‘Today I want to give a shout-out to my Mom and Dad, who made a BIG difference in my life by showing me what hard work is supposed to look it. I wouldn’t be where I am without him!’.
