California Professional Athletes

The Bond That Could Make History

Two Cal men are quietly building something extraordinary in Detroit — and the rest of the NFL is starting to notice.

Jared Goff and Amon-Ra St. Brown, both Berkeley products, have developed a quarterback-receiver connection that Fox Sports described as "unspoken telepathy" heading into the 2026 season. The Lions duo is on the verge of making NFL history together, with the pair's on-field chemistry growing into something that transcends preparation and scheme. It's the kind of relationship that takes years to build and that defenses genuinely struggle to gameplan against — a comfort level where routes are anticipated, not just run.

Fox Sports went inside the bond in a deep feature this week, detailing the intensity of their connection and what sets it apart from standard NFL pairings. Yahoo Sports flagged it as the best Lions content of the week, a signal that the story resonated well beyond Detroit's fanbase. For Cal alumni, it's a reminder that the Goff-to-St. Brown pipeline out of Berkeley has become one of the most productive in the league.

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Rodgers in Pittsburgh: Questions Linger

Meanwhile, the other marquee Cal quarterback — Aaron Rodgers, now in Pittsburgh — is entering the regular season with skeptics circling.

Multiple NFL analysts have taken pointed shots at Rodgers and the Steelers this preseason. One ESPN analyst called Rodgers "not enjoyable to watch," while another dismissed Pittsburgh's Super Bowl chances outright. The critiques aren't new for Rodgers, but the volume heading into Week 1 is notable. The Steelers' backup quarterback situation has also drawn attention, with head coach Mike McCarthy addressing the competition between Will Howard and Drew Allar before roster cuts — a depth chart battle that underscores how much pressure sits on Rodgers to deliver.

One analyst did offer a more optimistic counter-read, suggesting Rodgers shouldn't be counted out after a "concerning projection" made the rounds. Pittsburgh's front office is banking on that version of Rodgers showing up. Whether he does will define the Steelers' season.

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Around the League

Elsewhere in the Cal alumni network, Keenan Allen had a moment worth noting in Indianapolis. Colts QB Anthony Richardson hit Allen on his very first pass of the preseason finale — a symbolic connection between a former All-Pro receiver and a young quarterback still working to cement his role on the depth chart.

In Chicago, Elijah Hicks got good news: the Bears activated the safety off the physically unable to perform list this week, giving him a chance to push for a roster spot as the regular season approaches. Xavier Carlton, Cal's other linebacker on the Bears' roster, remains in the mix as Chicago finalizes its 53-man squad.

The Cal footprint in the NFL remains wide — from a potential historic duo in Detroit to a franchise quarterback controversy in Pittsburgh to roster bubble battles in Chicago and Indianapolis. For Golden Bears alumni watching closely, the most compelling story is unfolding right where it started: two Berkeley alums, building something that looks a lot like greatness.

Keenan Allen Keeps the Clock Running in Indianapolis

At 34, Keenan Allen isn't interested in nostalgia tours — he's back for business. The six-time Pro Bowler officially signed a one-year deal with the Indianapolis Colts this week, returning for a 14th NFL season after a second stint with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2025. The Colts made the signing official, simultaneously waiving rookie WR Roydell Williams to clear roster space.

The fit is functional if not seamless. Indianapolis was dealing with injuries and thin depth behind Alec Pierce and Josh Downs, and Allen's veteran presence fills an immediate need — even if questions linger about how much he has left in the tank and what the addition signals about Pierce's status long-term. Allen didn't wait long to get on the field, making his Colts debut during a joint practice against the Atlanta Falcons at Grand Park — the final session of an eight-year training camp era at that facility. Whatever the ceiling, Allen's decision to keep playing earns its own headline.

Jared Goff's Detroit Future Gets Murky

Just a few hours east, Cal's franchise quarterback is entering murkier territory. Jared Goff's contract situation with the Detroit Lions is set to get complicated after this season, with his current deal creating increasing uncertainty about his long-term future in Detroit. Reports have already surfaced linking the Lions to potential quarterback replacements — names from the Eagles and Buccaneers reportedly in the mix — though analysts have been quick to label those options as odd fits.

None of that dims what Goff has built in Detroit. He, Aidan Hutchinson, and Amon-Ra St. Brown recently earned serious recognition across the league, a testament to the Lions' emergence as a legitimate NFC contender. But the contract clock is ticking, and the offseason conversation has shifted from appreciation to succession planning — at least in some corners of the league.

Mekari's Back Surgery Clouds Jacksonville's Line

While Allen celebrates a new chapter and Goff navigates his future, Patrick Mekari is fighting through a more immediate crisis. The former Cal offensive lineman underwent back surgery, adding another significant question mark to a Jacksonville Jaguars offensive line already dealing with considerable uncertainty. Mekari's recovery timeline remains unclear, and the Jaguars' early options up front will be tested as a result.

Around the League

Two other Bears are quietly building cases for expanded roles in 2026. In New England, second-year safety Craig Woodson is drawing attention in the Patriots' secondary, with reports suggesting he'll play a pivotal role for the team this season. In Kansas City, defensive back Nohl Williams was highlighted as one of the Chiefs' "hidden gems" — a secret superstar on a roster still chasing dynasty status.

As for Aaron Rodgers, the former Cal signal-caller is in Pittsburgh and sitting out preseason action while the Steelers evaluate younger options at quarterback. His presence — and future — looms large over the organization heading into a pivotal year.

It's a wide-ranging week for the Cal family in the NFL: one legend refusing to exit, one star facing an uncertain renewal, and one lineman navigating the injury fog. The Bears are everywhere — and not all of them are standing on solid ground.

The Last Hurrah Begins

Cal's most decorated NFL alumnus isn't ready to walk away just yet. Aaron Rodgers, 42, is officially suiting up for a 22nd NFL season — this time in Pittsburgh, where a reunion with coach Mike McCarthy convinced him to shelve retirement plans he was reportedly very close to acting on.

According to Bleacher Report, it was McCarthy's hiring by the Steelers that flipped the switch. Rodgers and McCarthy famously built a Super Bowl championship together in Green Bay, and that familiarity was enough to keep the future Hall of Famer in pads. It's a strange-but-poetic closing chapter: the partnership that defined Rodgers' peak years is now his last gasp.

Rodgers didn't waste training camp just standing around. A viral clip showed him playing defense during a drill at Steelers camp — a bit of levity from the oldest active player in the NFL. Mason Rudolph, one of four quarterbacks on Pittsburgh's roster this summer, told reporters Rodgers has also been pranking teammates with bumper stickers. Say what you want about the mileage; the guy hasn't lost the locker room.

Preseason Drama with the Packers

The Steelers opened the preseason against Green Bay — Rodgers' old team for 18 seasons — and the symbolism wasn't lost on anyone, least of all Rodgers. He publicly expressed disappointment that the game wasn't scheduled at Lambeau Field, where he spent the bulk of his career. "Bummed," was reportedly his word for it.

Whether he would actually play was its own subplot. Rodgers has been vocal about his skepticism of preseason football, telling CBS Sports it's "not real football," and signs pointed to him sitting out the opener as Pittsburgh's backup corps — Rudolph, Will Howard, and rookie Drew Allar — handled the action. McCarthy has confirmed he intends to keep all four quarterbacks on the roster, an unusual arrangement that reflects just how transitional this season is for the franchise.

Green Bay's Jordan Love, for his part, was gracious. Love told Bleacher Report he's still filling "big shoes" left behind by Rodgers — a reminder of just how long Rodgers' shadow stretches in Wisconsin.

Buchanan Returns, Jordan Sidelined

Two other Cal alumni made news this week on opposite ends of the injury spectrum.

Linebacker Teddye Buchanan got good news out of Baltimore: the Ravens activated him off the PUP list, eight months removed from a torn ACL. It's a significant milestone for the former Cal linebacker, who is now in line to contribute as the regular season approaches.

Meanwhile, defensive end Cameron Jordan faces a rougher road in New Orleans. The Saints veteran could miss the start of the regular season due to a hamstring injury, per Sportsnet — a concerning development for a player who has been a cornerstone of that defense for over a decade.

Goff Watching His Depth Chart

In Detroit, Jared Goff's situation at the top of the Lions' roster is secure, but the team is scrambling for backup quarterback options after Teddy Bridgewater announced his retirement. CBS Sports confirmed Bridgewater, 33, is stepping away after 11 seasons, leaving Detroit to explore trade options to shore up depth behind their franchise QB. It doesn't threaten Goff's standing — but it's a front-office headache the Lions didn't need heading into camp.

Aaron Rodgers, Unfiltered and Unbothered

It's Year 22, and Aaron Rodgers wants you to know he's not hiding anything — not his ambitions, not his grievances, and not the fact that he was vomiting before Pittsburgh's 30-6 Wild Card blowout loss to the Texans last January.

The Cal alum and Steelers starter confirmed this week that he played through an undisclosed illness in that playoff game, a detail that's now drawing scrutiny in two directions: former Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith told The Athletic that Rodgers "looked terrible" before kickoff, while the NFL has declined to comment on whether the team failed to properly disclose the injury designation. It's the kind of controversy that follows Rodgers like a shadow — and one he seems content to walk through without apology.

The bigger story, though, is the mentality he's carrying into what is widely expected to be his final season. Rodgers told reporters this week he has no shame about "chasing the ring" — framing his Steelers tenure not as a last act of desperation but as the logical conclusion of a career that has always been oriented around winning. CBS Sports reports that his camp in Pittsburgh is being described in optimistic terms, with some around the league characterizing this as a setup for one of his best seasons yet.

The reunion with head coach Mike McCarthy — the man who coached him through his Super Bowl XLV run in Green Bay — is adding an unexpected emotional dimension. Yahoo Sports reported that receiver Ben Skowronek described the Rodgers-McCarthy dynamic as "like an old couple that got divorced and then realized maybe they're right for each other all along." Inside jokes, moments of vulnerability, and a shared sense of unfinished business are reportedly defining the early camp vibe.

Preseason Revenge Tour?

One of the more intriguing subplots: McCarthy has indicated he wants Rodgers on the field for Pittsburgh's first two preseason games — which happen to be against the Green Bay Packers and New York Jets, Rodgers' two former teams. Whether the injury risk of playing a 42-year-old quarterback in meaningless August football is worth the theater remains a legitimate question, but Rodgers himself told reporters he's willing to be flexible on the workload.

Not everyone is buying the hype. NFL defensive coordinators ranked Rodgers 19th among quarterbacks in a poll conducted by The Athletic's Mike Sando, with one DC bluntly saying Rodgers is "not able to make that magic like he used to." FanSided went further, arguing his off-field noise — a recent Pat McAfee Show appearance that drew ESPN into the discourse — makes him a distraction for a Steelers team with little margin for error.

The Steelers' official response to the Rodgers circus was characteristically measured: "Our players are entitled to their own personal views."

Goff and Jordan Also Drawing Notice

Two other Cal alums earned recognition this week. Jared Goff was named to the NFL Top 100 list by his peers, though The Sporting News noted the Lions quarterback continues to be underrated in broader league conversations relative to contemporaries like Caleb Williams and Jordan Love. Meanwhile, defensive end Cameron Jordan of the Saints received a notable Hall of Fame projection from ESPN — good news for a player still producing in New Orleans and a feel-good storyline for the Cal alumni base.