Aaron Rodgers shared postgame moments with Zach Wilson and ex-Packers coach Joe Barry after leading the Pittsburgh Steelers to a big MNF win over the Miami Dolphins
Aaron Rodgers’ night at Acrisure Stadium ended with a statement win, but some of the most telling moments came after the final whistle.
As the Steelers wrapped up a 28-15 “Monday Night Football” victory over the Miami Dolphins, in which Troy Aikman blasted a “terrible call” in a key moment, Rodgers lingered on the field, sharing brief but meaningful exchanges with two familiar faces from different chapters of his career: Zach Wilson and former Packers defensive coordinator Joe Barry.
Cameras caught Rodgers embracing Wilson near midfield, a moment that carried added weight given where both quarterbacks have been.
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Wilson, the former No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft out of BYU, said: “Congrats, happy for ya.” Once viewed as the Jets’ quarterback of the future, Wilson’s uneven play led to his trade to the Denver Broncos in 2024 before he joined the Dolphins the following season.
Now on the opposite sideline of Rodgers, the quarterback he once backed up in New York, Wilson was part of a Miami team eliminated from playoff contention by the loss.
Rodgers’ reunion tour didn’t stop there. He also crossed paths with Barry, the defensive coordinator in Green Bay during the final stretch of Rodgers’ Packers tenure and now a linebackers coach and run game coordinator with Miami.
Barry was seen greeting Rodgers warmly, at one point calling him “the greatest of all time,” a compliment that reflected their shared history despite their teams heading in very different directions Monday night.
Barry’s time in Green Bay was defined by both notable highs and painful playoff exits. Hired in February 2021, he oversaw a Packers defense that finished ninth in the NFL in yards allowed during his first season, even while missing key stars like Za’Darius Smith and Jaire Alexander.
His unit helped De’Vondre Campbell earn First-Team All-Pro honors and even shut out Russell Wilson for the first time in Wilson’s career.
But postseason disappointments, including losses to the 49ers in which late defensive stops proved elusive, lingered, and Barry was fired in January 2024 before landing with the Dolphins the following month.
On this night, it was Rodgers who had the last word on the field. The veteran quarterback played a controlled, efficient game, avoiding turnovers and directing four straight touchdown drives spanning the end of the first half and start of the second.
Pittsburgh leaned on balance, with Kenneth Gainwell’s rushing and receiving providing steady momentum, while DK Metcalf and Marquez Valdes-Scantling delivered timely scores. The Steelers finished with a 33:33 edge in time of possession and improved to 8-6, staying atop the AFC North.
Miami, meanwhile, struggled to keep pace in the cold, managing just three points through nearly three quarters. Tua Tagovailoa found Darren Waller twice late to soften the final score, but the Dolphins were outgained in plays and eliminated from the playoff race.
