Steelers' Week 1 Opponent Sauce Gardner Shares Nervous Thoughts About Plans With Pittsburgh's Terrible Towel

The Pittsburgh Steelers played a dangerous game during the 2025 offseason by waiting it out with quarterback Aaron Rodgers up until just days before mandatory minicamp. The team would've been in a much bleaker situation at quarterback had he decided to retire or join another franchise. Instead, Rodgers will run into and battle against many familiar faces with the Steelers this season. The AFC North and NFC North squads are all set to face each other in 2025, possibly giving Rodgers and the Steelers an advantage. In addition, Rodgers will make a thrilling return to MetLife Stadium to open the regular season.

The NFL made the logical move by matching up the Steelers with the New York Jets in Week 1 of the 2025 regular season. Rodgers spent the last two seasons with the Jets, but his time in New York was cut short after a 5-12 record in 2024. Rodgers and former Steelers quarterback Justin Fields essentially swapped teams this offseason, making the matchup all the more exciting for both sides.

One of Rodgers' teammates with the Jets, star cornerback Sauce Gardner, was recently asked about their home matchup with the Steelers in Week 1. Early in the 2022 season, Gardner's rookie year, he and the Jets pulled off an upset against Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Gardner was seen with the Packers' classic cheese head after the game in mocking fashion. The Steelers have suffered in the same way previously in the past with their own Terrible Towel. 

On Thursday, Gardner spoke about the possibility of him messing with the Terrible Towel in Week 1. Players and teams that have mocked the Steelers with the Terrible Towel in the past suffered serious consequences onward, and some fans believe it could be a real curse. Gardner seemed quite hesitant about the idea of messing with one of Pittsburgh's greatest symbols. 

"You know, Pittsburgh, you get a little in the trenches in there," said Gardner. "I might have to tread lightly when I go. No, we play here actually, right? Oh, yeah, yeah, we on home court. Yeah, I don't know, I've got to think about it."

Teams that have suffered from the Terrible Towel "curse" in the past include the original San Diego Chargers, the Cincinnati Bengals, Tennessee Titans, and most recently, the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2023. Each team that squandered with the Terrible Towel wound up having disappointing finishes to their seasons at the time. 

While the Steelers will be on the road for their duel with Gardner and the Jets, Pittsburgh fans, who are notoriously known for traveling well, will be filling up MetLife Stadium with plenty of Terrible Towels. A member of the Jets may end up having the stones to mock the Steelers if the game shifts towards the Jets' favor, but the curse could cost them down the road, like it has so many others.

In 2023, the Jaguars, who were once 8-3 at the time, finished their regular season losing five of their last six games, which knocked them out of the playoffs. The Steelers would go on to make the playoffs after winning their final three games of the regular season with Mason Rudolph, finishing with a 10-7 record. It was actually a Jacksonville loss in 18 that season that helped Pittsburgh clinch a spot in the postseason, ironically.

Steelers And Jets' Week 1 Matchup Will Have A Lot Of Smiling 

The two teams met in Pittsburgh last season, in what was the first start under center for Russell Wilson with the Steelers. Rodgers and the Jets started off with a strong first quarter and a half of football, but the Steelers stole the momentum just before halftime and wound up destroying New York in Acrisure Stadium under the lights. Gardner said in his press conference the Week 1 matchup will be very competitive and that smiles will be made. 

Do you think Gardner or anyone on the Jets will test the Steelers by messing with the Terrible Towel? What are your Week 1 predictions? Let us know in the comments below.

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