Aaron Rodgers might not have Terry Bradshaw on his next ayahuasca retreat or have him sit in the darkness with him.

But how about chew some bark?

Regardless of the activity, the new Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback is looking to have a conversation with the legendary Steelers quarterback who previously told him to stay away from the franchise where he won four Super Bowls.

Jul 24, 2025; Latrobe, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) participates in drills during training camp at Saint Vincent College. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Rodgers, while participating in his first training camp with the Steelers, responded to Bradshaw's public bashing last month during an interview on the NFL Network over the weekend with a kinder approach.

"So, he's got an idea about what he thinks about me based on what I've done, the (Netflix) documentary, what I've said, darkness retreat, whatever the hell you want to talk about," Rodgers said. "I'd love to get to know Terry on a deeper level and I feel like if he gave me a chance to get to know him then we'd have a good friendship."

A friendship might take some time after what Bradshaw said about Rodgers.

Rodgers had spent months following the end of last season deciding whether he wanted to play in 2025.

He became a free agent for the first time in his career after the Jets released him in March following two disappointing seasons in the Big Apple.

But since people close to him were going through personal challenges, Rodgers wasn't ready to commit to a 21st NFL season. The Steelers, however, stayed in contact with Rodgers even if it meant their QB situation was in a bit of limbo. That led Bradshaw, along with others, to call out Rodgers.

Bradshaw, who played for the Steelers from 1970-83, told a radio show in early June he felt that Rodgers coming to the Steelers would be "a joke."

"What are you going to bring him in for one year?" Bradshaw questioned on the radio show. "Are you kidding me? No, man, that guy needs to stay in California, go somewhere and chew on bark and whisper to the gods out there."

Rodgers did end up signing a one-year deal with the Steelers and he told "The Pat McAfee Show" that it's likely his last season.

"Well, I whisper to the gods every single day," Rodgers said laughing during his interview with the NFL Network.

Rodgers said he's known Bradshaw for a long time through his time with Fox and had praise for the two-time Super Bowl MVP.

"Terry's a legend, he's an absolute legend," Rodgers said.

He later added he has "nothing but the utmost amount of respect and deference for what the greats have done because they laid the foundation for us to be able to play this great game, to be paid like kings and to carry on the tradition of excellence. Guys like the Bradshaws of the world in the '70s, Bart Starr in the '60s and (Vince) Lombardi and Joe Montana, Steve Young and Brett Favre and all the greats, Tom Brady.

"We're standing on the backs of those guys and it's because of those guys how they played and how they carried themselves that we're able to have this opportunity to still play this great game, to get paid really well to set ourselves up for our future, so I'd love to get to know Terry on a deeper level if he's open to it and maybe we can go chew some bark or whatever the hell he's talking about together."

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Aaron Rodgers responds to Terry Bradshaw's plea of him to 'stay in California' and 'chew on bark'