Aaron Rodgers has turned Pittsburgh Steelers offensive meetings into something closer to a classroom, and rookie wide receiver Germie Bernard is often the one called to the front of the room. The Aaron Rodgers pop quiz routine with Bernard involves the veteran quarterback calling out the second-round pick by name and demanding he identify the opposing defense, its scheme and the game plan built against it on the spot.
“He interrogates me every single week,” Bernard said on The Christian Kuntz Podcast. “We go into the offensive meeting, he’s like, ‘All right, Germ, you’re up.’ And he just he’s like, ‘All right, name the players on their defense. Name the scheme on their defense. Name these plays and the game plan.'”
How The Quizzing Works In Meetings And On The Practice Field
The questioning does not stop when the meeting ends. Bernard said Rodgers keeps pressing him during practice, asking him to identify coverages and count personnel at the line of scrimmage in real time.
“Aaron (Rodgers) challenges me all the time,” Bernard said. “That’s how you become one of the best, the ball knowledge. We’re all here because we’re talented people, but it takes way more than talent to be able to excel at a high level.”
What The Approach Reveals About Rodgers’ Standards
Bernard, 22, is a rookie who was drafted in the second round in April 2026 after leading Alabama in receptions as a junior and senior, a résumé that earned him the nickname “Uncle Germ” among teammates for his mature approach. Rather than treating Rodgers as an untouchable, four-time MVP, Bernard greets him like any other teammate. That comfort has not softened the standard Rodgers holds him to.
“What I’ve learned from that is like he wants us to be prepared and know what we’re doing and what we’re going to see,” Bernard said. “For him to be up there to ask me questions like that, it means something to me. So, I take that task very seriously.”
Bernard Says The Repetition Sharpens His Reads
Bernard credits the daily questioning with changing how he processes a defense once the game starts. Knowing the game plan cold, he said, frees him to focus on smaller tendencies rather than just surviving the play call.
“I feel like the more experience you get, the more that you know within the game plan, you’re able to focus on other details of defense,” Bernard said. “When they’re in this front or when they’re in this coverage, they may roll this (coverage) or they may bring a blitz on this down. You’re able to really hone into the small details, and that’s something that I’ve learned from Aaron.”
A Breakout Game Against The Colts
The quizzing method came into focus after Bernard posted career highs of nine targets, six receptions and 80 receiving yards in Pittsburgh’s win over the Indianapolis Colts. The Steelers entered that game missing three of their top five receivers, Michael Pittman Jr., Roman Wilson and Ben Skowronek, which pushed Bernard into a larger role. Rodgers finished that game 22 of 31 for 235 yards and three touchdowns, according to USA Today.
Rodgers pointed to Bernard’s mental growth, not just his production, when asked about the performance.
“(He’s) not making repeat mistakes,” Rodgers said. “I think that’s the most important thing for young players. He’s been getting better.
He asks the right questions. He’s becoming a little bit more prepared and dialed in. And it’s just confidence.
When a young player starts playing with confidence, you see the potential. I thought last week was a good step in the right direction for him.”
Coach McCarthy’s Read On Bernard’s Development
Steelers coach Mike McCarthy has also noticed Bernard’s rapid acclimation, pointing to his ability to line up at multiple receiver spots and contribute as a blocker.
“Football comes easy to him,” McCarthy said. “There’s some young-guy mistakes he made (Sunday), but you can see it coming. He’s acclimated very well to the offense with his ability to play all three positions.
He sticks his nose in there in the run game, too. I’ve been very impressed.”
At 6-foot-1 and 206 pounds, Bernard forced 17 missed tackles in 2025, a trait that fits an offense that leads the NFL in yards after catch by a wide margin. That combination of size, contact balance and now in-meeting preparation has made him a bigger part of the game plan than his draft slot suggested he would be this early.
What’s Next
Pittsburgh continues preparing for its next matchup with Bernard expected to keep absorbing a heavier target share while Roman Wilson’s injury status and the rest of the receiver corps remain thin. Rodgers, who has climbed the career touchdown record book this season, will likely keep the quizzes running in meetings as the Steelers try to build consistency with a patchwork group of pass catchers.
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