Steelers' Aaron Rodgers Seriously Upset Jets' Garrett Wilson During 2024 Season

The Pittsburgh Steelers took a big risk for their 2025 season when they put all their eggs into one basket for 41-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Now entering his 21st NFL season, Rodgers arrives in Pittsburgh with a resume that includes four MVPs and a Super Bowl ring, but also fresh concerns about age, health, and leadership. Unlike when he joined the New York Jets in 2023, the price tag was much lower this time around. Pittsburgh didn’t give up major draft capital, but they did commit to building their offense around a quarterback who won just five games in 2024.

The expectations are also very different. When Rodgers arrived in New York, he was expected to instantly turn the Jets into Super Bowl contenders. That dream ended almost immediately when he suffered a torn Achilles just four snaps into the 2023 season. The 2024 campaign didn’t go much better, with the Jets winning just five games and struggling on both sides of the ball. The Steelers are not promising championships, but they are hoping Rodgers can bring stability to a team that has lacked consistency at quarterback since Ben Roethlisberger retired.

Jets insider Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic reported that Rodgers’ relationship with wide receiver Garrett Wilson took a turn for the worse late in the 2024 season. The once-promising connection between the two reportedly grew strained as the losses piled up and frustrations boiled over. 

"By the end of last season, Wilson and Rodgers weren’t exactly the best of friends," Rosenblatt said. "A relationship that started with promise ended with each taking subtle shots at each other in press conferences."

For the Steelers, this raises concerns about how Rodgers will mesh with a new group of receivers and a young locker room. If the chemistry isn't there and the offense struggles early, the risk Pittsburgh took could quickly become a major regret.

However, Rodgers has actually been a strong voice for the team in the early stages of his time with the Steelers. He has been very vocal in praising the players, Mike Tomlin, and the rest of the organization. Of course, things can always change, but at the moment, this situation isn’t all that concerning for Steelers fans.

"Privately, Rodgers complained about Wilson’s tendency to freelance on routes, and there was frustration from Wilson — and others — about how Rodgers was funneling targets to Davante Adams, shying away from running the ball and ignoring Wilson in the red zone," Rosenblatt said.

In the 2023 season, it initially looked like Rodgers and Wilson were off to a great start. Wilson was thrilled to have a quarterback of Rodgers’ caliber in town, and it appeared that Rodgers was taking the young wide receiver under his wing. But that momentum came to a halt when Rodgers suffered a torn Achilles just four plays into the season, cutting his 2023 campaign short before it could truly begin.

Steelers' Aaron Rodgers Has Been A Great Leader So Far

Even after the injury, Rodgers stayed close to the team, giving speeches and offering support from the sidelines, showing signs of true leadership. However, by the 2024 season, the Jets were in disarray. New York brought in Rodgers’ former Green Bay Packers teammate and All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams, which reportedly created tension. Wilson felt Rodgers was forcing the ball to Adams and ignoring him, while Rodgers believed Wilson wasn’t running routes correctly and didn’t want to reward him with targets.

This detail sheds light on how things unraveled for Rodgers in New York. Now, both Rodgers and Steelers fans are hoping for a much better outcome in Pittsburgh in 2025. So far, Rodgers has come to the Steel City and said all of the right things. Steeler Nation is hopeful that Rodgers will keep that same energy all season long.

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