Aaron Rodgers Believes Steelers Can Contend for Super Bowl 61 Title, 'I Believe in the Guys'

Aaron Rodgers says he chose to join the Pittsburgh Steelers for what he expects to be his final NFL season because he believes his team can contend for a Super Bowl.

When asked Tuesday by Mad Dog Sports Radio's Adam Schein if he felt the Steelers were title contenders, Rodgers answered, "Yeah, of course. That's why I came back, because I believe in the guys."

Rodgers went on to detail changes to the Steelers defense as a reason to believe in the team as a contender this season.

Changes noted by Rodgers included bringing in Jaquan Brisker, Jamel Dean and Sebastian Joseph-Day to join returners like T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig.

Rodgers added he felt the Steelers' defensive line has become "one of the bigger I've been a part of" as second-year players Derrick Harmon and Yahya Black prepare to join Cam Heyward.

"I feel like the AFC is very deep. Even in our own division, there's a number of teams with Super Bowl aspirations, which is great," Rodgers said.

The Steelers will get their first chance to work toward snapping the franchise's decade-long playoff streak when head coach Mike McCarthy makes his Pittsburgh debut in Sunday's Week 1 matchup against Tua Tagovailoa and the visiting Atlanta Falcons.

Pittsburgh won't begin division play until Week 3, when Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals come to town Sunday, Sept. 27.