Aaron Rodgers made sure his Pittsburgh Steelers offensive linemen had a very merry Christmas this year.
On Saturday, December 27, the Steelers quarterback, 42, revealed via Instagram that he’d gifted his linemen Can-Am Maverick X3 off-road vehicles — which range in price from $19,999 to $29,000, according to Pennsylvania dealership Mosites Motorsports. Rodgers donned a “The Dude Abides” sweater from The Big Lebowski as he surprised his offensive line with the expensive gifts.
“Christmas gifts for the big guys done right. 🌲 🎁Can-Am Maverick X3-X turbo’s for the boys,” Rodgers wrote in the Instagram caption.
The footage showed Rodgers being thanked by his linemen before he decided it was time to test out their new off-road vehicles.
“Alright, let’s take them on a joy ride,” Rodgers challenged his teammates.
The dealership posted a separate behind-the-scenes look at the tremendous preparation that went into Rodgers’ surprise for his Steelers O-line. Hours before Rodgers presented the vehicles, each one had to be loaded separately onto massive trucks.
“The night before Christmas Eve, getting everything dialed in for Aaron Rodgers’ O-Line delivery,” Mosites Motorsports explained. “A lot of work goes into moments like this.”
Mosites joked that Rodgers was “rewarding the guys who protect the pocket.”
The dealership also boasted that their team helped Rodgers give “his offensive line the gift of horsepower” this festive season.
“Safe to say, [the gifts] delivered,” Mosites Motorsports declared.
Rodgers and his Pittsburgh Steelers are one game away from earning a spot in the NFL playoffs. If the Steelers manage to beat the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, December 28, they will secure a spot in the AFC playoffs.
NFL QBs have definitely upped their gifting game this year. Patrick Mahomes surprised his Kansas City Chiefs offensive line with a jaw-dropping set of gifts on December 19, including an Aventon electric bike (retails between $1,799 and $1,999), a pair of Beats Studio Pro headphones ($349), a Hublot watch (retails between $12,000 and $25,000), a hardshell Rimowa suitcase ($1,500), white sunglasses and a Full Swing golf simulator kit (starting at $11,000).
The Chiefs were stunned by the lavish presents, with various players being heard saying “Oh my” and “Whoa” in social media footage shot in their locker room.
“Christmas came early for the o-line! Shoutout to QB1 for the gift,” the Chiefs shared via Instagram.
Meanwhile, Detroit Lions’ quarterback Jared Goff splurged on custom golf carts for his offensive line. Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow went with a more eclectic choice by giving out authentic dinosaur, bear and mammoth fossils for the holidays.
ESPN’s Bengals reporter Ben Baby revealed that Burrow, 29, invited offensive linemen to his home on December 22, where he had the fossils displayed. Each lineman was invited to pick a fossil to take home with them, with the order determined by seniority.
“I think it speaks to his intelligence and interests and his desire to do something unique,” Bengals center Ted Karras told ESPN on Friday, December 26, of Burrow’s presents. “I thought it was really special.”
As for Rodgers, his pricey gifts follow a contentious week for the Steelers QB after he was caught on a hot mic disparaging Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell about his age after a play on December 21.
“Oh, you don’t want me to help pick you up? Why?” Rodgers was heard asking Campbell, 22, in between plays. “‘Cause you’re slower than a 42-year-old. Is that why? You’re slower than a 42-year-old?”
Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers ultimately beat the Lions 29-24.
Read the full article here
