NFL Drama Turns to Respect: DeShon Elliott Apologizes for “Retirement Home” Jab at Aaron Rodgers

In a humbling twist of sports drama, Pittsburgh Steelers safety DeShon Elliott has publicly apologized to future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers for previously suggesting the veteran QB should be “left at the retirement home.” The comment, made during the height of offseason speculation about Rodgers potentially joining the Steelers, sparked widespread attention across social media — but now, Elliott is taking responsibility.

During media availability at training camp this weekend, Elliott didn’t dodge the controversy. Instead, he faced it head-on.

“I’m a troll,” Elliott admitted with a smile. “He’s an All-Pro and he’s a GOAT. He’s going to be a gold jacket guy one day.”

Elliott, known for his aggressive style on the field and fiery personality off it, explained that his online jab was less about disrespect and more about feeding into the fan-fueled speculation of the offseason.

“Honestly, when he got here, we communicated, we talked. He’s a great person and a great football player,” Elliott added. “So [whatever] the media’s put out there is B.S. I respect him a lot. I told him that I respect him, and I apologized to him for the things I was saying about him.”

Rodgers, who joined the Steelers following a brief and injury-shortened stint with the New York Jets, appears to have taken Elliott’s apology in stride. Known for his calm demeanor and unbothered attitude toward criticism, the four-time MVP didn’t seem fazed by the February comment in the first place.

“Honestly, he’s a great man and he has a great heart,” Elliott continued. “So I appreciate him, and he’s funny as hell.”

Elliott’s original statement was made in response to a graphic posted by NFL aggregator JPAFootball, which connected Rodgers to Pittsburgh. Without missing a beat, Elliott commented, “Leave his ass at the retirement home.” At the time, fans interpreted the comment as serious disdain, but Elliott now confirms it was more tongue-in-cheek than venomous.

While some may call it a flip-flop, others view it as growth — a moment of maturity and mutual respect between two players on opposite ends of the NFL experience spectrum. With the Steelers gearing up for what could be a promising season under Rodgers’ veteran leadership, it’s important that chemistry between players like Elliott and Rodgers is strong.

This gesture may have started as social media trolling, but it ended with accountability and humility. Now, Elliott and Rodgers seem to be on the same page — a necessary foundation for a team aiming for championship-level performance.

As for Rodgers, whether or not he was ever offended, fans know one thing for sure: he’s used to silencing critics with his play — and this season, he might just do it again, this time wearing black and gold.