Cameron Heyward Sends Remorseful Message to Aaron Rodgers: ‘I Have to Apologize’

Defensive lineman Cameron Heyward often has Pittsburgh Steelers teammates appear as guests on his Not Just Football Podcast. But after NFL fans interpreted one offseason comment from Heyward as criticism for Aaron Rodgers, it was worth wondering if the quarterback would ever be a guest on the show.

But on Tuesday, Rodgers made his Not Just Football Podcast debut. Before asking any questions, Heyward addressed his offseason comment about Rodgers.

“I have to apologize,” Heyward said. “I guess my words were taken out of context when I said if you want to be a Pittsburgh Steelers or not.”

Heyward then asked Rodgers how his words impacted him.

“I was hurt. You didn’t reach out, and you just wanted to make a statement in the media,” Rodgers responded. “You had a preconceived notion of who I was, obviously.”

It’s difficult to tell if Rodgers was being serious or delivering a tongue-and-cheek message with his response. Heyward initially laughed at the quarterback’s answer, so that suggested Rodgers was being sarcastic. But the quarterback had a very serious tone with his answer, and the video was edited.

“I did,” Heyward said when Rodgers claimed the defensive lineman had a preconceived notion of him.

The quarterback then asked Heyward how his preconceived notion of him has changed over the past couple months.

“It’s been good,” Heyward said. “You came to my cookout. You came to my golf outing. I appreciate that.”

Cameron Heyward Explains Where His Preconceived Notions of Aaron Rodgers Came From

Heyward and Rodgers have both played in the NFL since 2011. But Heyward shared his judgement of Rodgers began last October when the Steelers hosted the New York Jets in Week 7.

“It all stemmed back from last year. We go out for the coin toss, and I’m saying hi and everything. And [Rodgers]’s is like, ‘How old are you?'” Heyward said. “I’m like, ‘This [explicit] right here. Just right off the bat just asked me how old I am like he’s a [explicit] spring chicken.”

The quarterback then poked fun at Heyward’s appearance.

“Because you have more grays than I do,” Rodgers said. “I know you’re still painting the top.”

The two All-Pros then teased each other about which one of them uses Just for Men.

One could argue there were a couple awkward pauses early in the Rodgers’ interview on Heyward’s podcast. The veteran quarterback appeared to nod his head in approval when the defensive lineman admitted his preconceived notions of Rodgers were wrong.

But overall, the two appeared to enjoy each other’s company during the hour-long podcast. Receiver D.K. Metcalf also appeared as a guest with Rodgers.

What Heyward Said About Rodgers This Offseason

The comment the defensive lineman apologized to Rodgers for occurred early in NFL free agency during March.

Heyward appeared to be critical of how Rodgers conducted himself in recent offseasons.

“I ain’t doing that darkness retreat. I don’t need any of that crap. Either you want to be a Pittsburgh Steeler or you don’t,” said Heyward. “That’s simple, that’s the pitch.

“If you want me to recruit, that’s the recruiting pitch. Pittsburgh Steelers. If you want to be part of it, so be it. If you don’t, no skin off my back.”

Heyward was referring to a “darkness retreat” Rodgers took in February 2023 for self-reflection. The retreat was meant to help Rodgers make a decision about his future.

Shortly after the retreat, the quarterback went to the New York Jets through a trade.

About a couple weeks after those comments aired on Heyward’s podcast on March 18, the defensive lineman called the quote “misconstrued” during an interview on NFL Network.

“I was asked a question, ‘Would you go to the lengths of going to a darkness retreat to recruit Aaron Rodgers.’ I said, ‘I’m not doing that. The pitch is, if you want to be a Steeler, be a Steeler.’ That’s all it was. It wasn’t that I don’t like Aaron Rodgers or I’m against it,” said Heyward.

“When I look at our team right now, it would be really cool to have a guy like Aaron Rodgers. But I can’t be the guy who gets it over the finish line. He’s got to make those decisions for himself. I’m excited to see what happens.”