Thursday’s “First Call” has some opinions on the Aaron Rodgers situation from a Pittsburgh Steelers legend. Top Steelers officials went to a pro day of note in the SEC. One of Mike McCarthy’s former players is heaping praise on his former coach.
And Penn State’s Gavin McKenna is getting lots of postseason attention.
Don’t wait
Steelers Hall of Famer Rod Woodson isn’t exactly fond of Aaron Rodgers playing out his Brett Favre re-enactment in Pittsburgh.
“What is it with these ex-Green Bay Packer quarterbacks that they have to be talked about all the time?” Woodson said last week on “The Rich Eisen Show.” “Because Brett Favre was that way for years.”
As noted at ProFootballTalk.com, Woodson is fatigued by the drama surrounding Rodgers’ constant decision-making process about whether or not he wants to play in Pittsburgh.
“I get kind of tired of it. If he’s going to play, say he’s going to play,” Woodson said. “The team shouldn’t wait for Aaron Rodgers. They need to move forward.”
Woodson is right. The Steelers should’ve demanded an answer from Rodgers before free agency. They definitely should before the draft.
If they never wanted Kyler Murray or Malik Willis anyway — and if they aren’t planning on drafting an early-round quarterback — then I suppose waiting for Rodgers is less consequential if simply going with Will Howard anyway is Plan B.
But that seems like an exceedingly passive approach in my opinion.
Woodson added that he believes the Steelers should have drafted Mississippi’s Jaxson Dart last year. However, if Tomlin was going to resign after 2025, he could see why he didn’t want to spend his final year breaking in a rookie QB.
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All A’s from CeeDee
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb gushed about new Steelers coach Mike McCarthy recently. He was on “The Ross Tucker Podcast” on Wednesday and couldn’t say enough good things about his former coach.
“He LOVES Pittsburgh…”
— Ross Tucker Podcast (@RossTuckerPod) March 18, 2026
“He wants to go vertical with the ball. I'm gonna tell you that RIGHT now…”
Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb (@_CeeDeeThree_) discusses Steelers new HC, Mike McCarthy: pic.twitter.com/dL1amy4SAp
“He loves Pittsburgh. That’s my man. I love Mike,” Lamb said. “He’s a great time. As soon as you walk in the building, you’re going to feel his energy, and you’re going to feel what he wants to do. He wants to go vertical with the ball. … That’s (a) guy I would run through a wall for. Mike did a great job developing me during my first five years in the league, and I knew what to prepare for going forward.”
To Lamb’s point about going vertical, in 2023 (McCarthy’s last full year with a healthy Dak Prescott), the Dallas offense averaged 7.6 yards per pass attempt, sixth most in the NFL (and were third in overall passing yards at 4,397). The Steelers were 26th last year at 6.6 yards per attempt (and 23rd in passing yards at 3,350).
Lamb led the NFC in receiving yards that year with 1,749. He also had 12 touchdowns (third best in the NFL), 80 first downs (second best in the NFL) and tied Tyreek Hill for the league lead with 29 catches over 20 yards that season.
Down with the Dawgs
Top Steelers officials were at Georgia’s pro day Wednesday, including McCarthy and general manager Omar Khan.
Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski and Steelers coach Mike McCarthy. pic.twitter.com/wtUvrELfSZ
— Harrison Reno (@HarrisonReno) March 18, 2026
That’s notable because Penn State and Mississippi had pro days Wednesday too. The Nittany Lions feature guard Vega Ioane, a player who has often been linked to the Steelers in the first round.
Georgia boasts tackle Monroe Freeling and linebacker C.J. Allen. Both of those players are expected to be first-round selections and are at positions of need for Pittsburgh.
Defensive lineman Christen Miller, receiver Zachariah Branch and cornerback Daylen Everette may be on the Steelers’ radar too.
Also, Illinois DL James Thompson was visiting the Steelers on Wednesday, according to CBS Sports’ Josh Edwards. Pro Football Network has Thompson as a sixth-round pick.
On the list
Penn State freshman Gavin McKenna was named a top-10 finalist for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award. That’s college hockey’s equivalent of football’s Heisman Trophy as the top player in NCAA Division I men’s ice hockey.
MCKENNA CALLED GAME!! ????????#WeAre #HockeyValley pic.twitter.com/f2xBY6KU1G
— Penn State Men’s Hockey (@PennStateMHKY) February 22, 2026
McKenna is the second Nittany Lion in consecutive seasons to be recognized as a finalist. Aiden Fink got that level of consideration that year.
On Wednesday, McKenna was also named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year. He was placed on the All-Conference Second-Team and the Big Ten All-Freshman Team.
A potential No. 1 overall NHL draft pick, the 18-year-old Canadian is the first Nittany Lion to be the Big Ten scoring champion. He led the league with 38 points on 11 goals and 27 assists in 24 conference games. His 38 points are the second-most ever by a Big Ten scoring champion.
