Aaron Rodgers cleared the air with Mike Williams after the wideout was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers at the trade deadline.

Williams was one of the stars Rodgers targeted throughout the 2024 NFL season though once the New York Jets acquired Davante Adams – one of Rodgers’ preferred receivers – the 30-year-old saw his usage dwindle. After the trade, it became clearer that Williams’ time in New York was running out.

What made Williams’ position within the organization more tenuous was the fact that Rodgers openly called out the 30-year-old after a loss to the Buffalo Bills. Still, Rodgers made sure to explain there was no bad blood between the two stars, with the four-time MVP wishing the wideout a successful career in Pittsburgh.

“Yeah, Mike’s a quiet guy, just kind of goes about his business,” Rodgers told ‘The Pat McAfee Show’ crew just after the news broke that Williams had been traded. “You know Mike had a rough injury last year – that ACL. It’s tough to come back from and he worked his — off all offseason.

“He’s working on the side but I felt like he was getting better throughout the early part of the season … I feel like his speed was getter and he was feeling more comfortable with it. That’s a tough injury – I had that injury and it’s the mental part that takes the longest.”

Along with commending Williams for working his way back to game shape, Rodgers also claimed the wideout would be an important presence for the Steelers. “Mike’s a good guy – he’ll be good in that locker room,” the 40-year-old continued.

New York Jets wide receiver Mike Williams (18) before a game between the New England Patriots and the New York Jets on October 27, 2024, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts

Mike Williams was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers, looking to forge a new season with Russell Wilson ( 

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Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

“Obviously got a lot of great veteran leadership. He’s had a nice career and sometimes, a change of scenery is great for certain guys. I mean, shoot, it was great for me. It was fun kind of getting re-enthused and stuff and we kind of knew with Davante coming that they’d be less targets for everybody because [Garrett Wilson’s] leading in targets.

“He’s going to get his targets, and [Adams] a dynamic player, he’s gonna get his targets. So if this gives Mike more opportunities, that’s awesome and we wish Mike well.” In exchange for Williams, the Jets received a fifth-round pick in 2025.

With Williams now out of New York, perhaps the lasting image between Rodgers and the wideout to fans would be when the 40-year-old specifically called him out for misplaying his route. After the Jets loss to the Bills, Rodgers told reporters that Williams did not run the right route, which led to an interception.

“We [were supposed to have] two verticals. Allen’s [Lazard] down the seam, Mike’s [Williams] down the red line [sideline go-route],” an irate Rodgers told reporters after the game.

“I’m looking at Allen, he puts his hand up, three guys go with him. So, I’m throwing a no-look to the red line. When I peek my eyes back there [Williams] is running an in-breaker. It’s gotta be down the red line.”

Even with Rodgers’ public criticism, Williams took the words in stride and acknowledged he was wrong. “No, nope. I’ve just got to be on the red line. We all watched film. We all go through it and made corrections,” he replied to reporters.