Larry Foote: Age May Have Slowed Aaron Rodgers But His Mind Is Quick
October 16th, 2026
Knows Aaron Rodgers well.
Hall of Fame coach Jimmy Johnson used to have a saying, “Let the mind control the body, not the body control the mind.”
And in a sense, Bucs outside linebackers coach Larry Foote said that’s what veteran Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is doing these days.
The 42-year old Rodgers is likely playing his final season. At least, that’s what he has said several times. The future Hall of Famer will likely make his final trip to Tampa to play football at The Licht House on Sunday.
If anyone with the Bucs knows Rodgers better than Foote, it would be a surprise. As a player, Foote faced Rodgers four times, the final time in a Super Bowl.
When Foote played for his hometime Lions, he recovered a Rodgers fumble as Rodgers was drilled scrambling out of the pocket. So Foote has prepared for Rodgers both as a player and as a coach.
To hear Foote talk, while Rodgers may be slowed by age, his mind is probably quicker than ever.
“He’s not moving as he did back in those days, obviously [now] being 42 years old,” Foote joked, remembering facing Rodgers on the field. “But he can still spin it.”
And that’s the key. Foote noted Rodgers no longer has quick feet and can’t move around as well in the pocket, which is understandable. But Rodgers still has uncanny accuracy.
“We all know he’s probably one of the best pure passers that this league [has] ever seen,” Foote said. “He’s still doing it at a high level. Stuff he does pre-snap, we [have] to make sure we stay one step ahead of him the best way we can, as far as just trying to disguise as much as possible because he’s definitely trying to read what we’re in.
“We [have] to have tight coverage because he can put it anywhere.”
Well, Joe isn’t afraid of Rodgers. First, for some weird reason, Rodgers does not play well in warm-weather cities. He is lights out playing in the frigid cold (unless he’s playing the Bucs).
Rodgers has a 2-3 record in The Licht House and the most points the Packers scored with Rodgers in Tampa was 28 in a 38-28 Bucs win in 2009. That was Lee Roy Selmon Day when Josh Freeman made his first career start.
So if Rodgers’ best output came in a loss in Tampa, “this Joe” is not going to sweat Sunday.
Rodgers is a drama queen and he has always whined about the turf in Tampa. He once blamed the turf for a foot injury. LOL That’s a new one for Joe: an otherwise fine football field creating a foot injury.
So playing in Tampa is in Rodgers’ head and not in a good way. We’ll see how mentally dialed in he is come Sunday.
October 16th, 2026 at 11:52 am
The Bucs are underdogs in their own stadium. A undrafted rookie quarterback Daniels is up Against a Steelers vaunted defense and an aging future Hall of Fame Aaron Rogers. Who will win. For the Bucs to win the Bucs defense has to show up and keep Roger’s on the sidelines for Daniels to have a chance.
Can Daniels match his game he had against the Cowboys or will the Bucs crumble against a strong Steelers defense?
October 16th, 2026 at 11:53 am
If we let Freiermuth beat us, we deserve to lose. Guarding spots of grass like Todd prefers will not work. ARod will pick us apart.
October 16th, 2026 at 12:17 pm
Turn on the sprinklers and let the Bulls tear up the field Saturday! I hope Bain gets his first sack on Rogers!
October 16th, 2026 at 12:19 pm
You know what will slow Aaron Rodgers? David Walker in his face for 55 snaps. This is a no brainer!
October 16th, 2026 at 12:30 pm
We just need to stay away from the roughing the passer penalties. Another reason why Bowles drops his pass rushers into coverage so much, to avoid the penalties.
October 16th, 2026 at 12:31 pm
Please….
End this insulting puppet show!
October 16th, 2026 at 12:35 pm
COVER THE TE!! COVER THE TE!!! COVER THE TE!!!! ESPECIALLY OVER THE MIDDLE!!!!!!!!
October 16th, 2026 at 12:43 pm
Right now it’s important that the Bucs show up and play with heart. That’s more important than any result.
October 16th, 2026 at 12:44 pm
“We [have] to have tight coverage because he can put it anywhere.”
Hope Bowles agrees and doesn’t play zone prevent “you from winning” defense.
We have to be in the faces of Rogers and Metcalf, and yes – please tightly cover the TE.
On offense, let Jalon run.
October 16th, 2026 at 12:50 pm
So Joe, what possible relevance does a loss to the Bucs in 2009 have to do with this Sunday’s showdown. Different teams (Rogers was Green Bay’s QB), different players. I mean, really? I’ve never understood why analysts even look at team records against one another. There is zero relevance in what you laid out, but there is relevence in a QB not performing well in a certain location. Especially with Rodgers being vocal about it. –Joe
Game announcers might say the Steelers are 8-4 when playing the Bengals at home. (I’m just using this as an example. I have no idea what the actual head-to-head record is.). So what? Unless it was earlier this year of maybe last year, everything changes – players, coaches, weather. What’s important is how do todays players match up against their opponents! In the Steelers-Bucs Sunday matchup, I tend to lean toward the Steeler. Hope I’m wrong.
October 16th, 2026 at 1:06 pm
An accurate HOF QB vs a non existent passing defensive scheme.
Yeah I went ahead and grabbed Rodgers in my weekly FF draft league.
If anyone can make him look great it’s Todd Bowles sack-less defense.
31-12 Steelers
October 16th, 2026 at 1:10 pm
They will cover the 2,5 points.
October 16th, 2026 at 1:19 pm
In 2020 Rodgers came down here and had a horrible day. 160, 2 picks. I dont see him lighting it up on Sunday. But, no idea who wins this one. 20-17, somebody
October 16th, 2026 at 2:19 pm
“Rodgers is a drama queen and he has always whined about the turf in Tampa. He once blamed the turf for a foot injury. LOL That’s a new one for Joe: an otherwise fine football field creating a foot injury.”
The field is so fine, about 1,600 members of the NFLPA voted it an F- on the NFL survey test this past year. Ironically enough, the only other grass field rated that low is….in Pittsburgh.
October 16th, 2026 at 3:47 pm
Licht needs to pull a Bull Durham and leave the sprinklers on all night.
Seriously though, it’s not the field. It’s the tides – a game on a high tide increases the pull on Rodgers jock strap and he plays poorly.
October 16th, 2026 at 5:38 pm
Age slowed Kirk Cousins too, and he ate Bowles defense alive for 2 straight years. Any DC who thinks sacks are just a stat, like the clown in charge of the Bucs defense, should be fired on the spot.
October 16th, 2026 at 5:43 pm
McBay Says:
October 16th, 2026 at 12:30 pm
We just need to stay away from the roughing the passer penalties. Another reason why Bowles drops his pass rushers into coverage so much, to avoid the penalties.
^^^^^^^^^^
Bowles does this, and has the corners play 8-10 yards off the LOS without bumping any receivers, because he doesn’t know what he’s doing. Yes, the defense has looked better so far this year, but it’s not sustainable.
October 16th, 2026 at 6:16 pm
Pressure from the defensive front and they’ll be fine…Sorry but with Pitts TE’s you’ll see alot of players dropping back.. Lol! You heard it here 1’st !!
October 16th, 2026 at 6:22 pm
Bowles drops his pass rushers into coverage to avoid penalties!! Lol!!! You heardthat here 1’st!!
Thats exactly why football Organisation’s do not listen to fans UGH!
October 16th, 2026 at 6:28 pm
” Bowles drops his pass rushers to avoid penalties ”
Classic reason football organizations do not listen
To the fans.. UGH!
October 16th, 2026 at 8:24 pm
Blah, blah, blah… This guy is BS artist. Telling us 2 years ago YaYa was a perennial double digit sack guy and last year Braswell was ready to break out. I can’t wait for him to be gone too.