The Pittsburgh Steelers are set to do battle with the Green Bay Packers this weekend on Sunday Night Football. This has been one of the games on the NFL schedule that many people have had their eyes on because it will mark the first time that Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers will face his old team. The four-time MVP spent 18 seasons (2005-2022) in Green Bay, leading the team to 11 playoff appearances and a Super Bowl title in his 15 years as the full-time starter. Simply put, when Rodgers was at the height of his days in Green Bay, he was arguably the best player in the entire league.
Gary A. Vasquez / Associated Press
The Pittsburgh Steelers face off against Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl 45.
The future Hall of Fame signal-caller spoke to the Pittsburgh media on Wednesday about his time in Green Bay and how he views the organization.
"I don't have any animosity towards the organization," said Rodgers. "This is not a revenge game for me. I grew up there. I spent 18 years there. I'm thankful for my time there."
It appears as though Rodgers has moved on from his time in Green Bay with plenty of gratitude. The 10-time Pro-Bowl selection was traded from the Packers to the New York Jets after the 2022 season, when Packers brass decided that young quarterback Jordan Love was ready to take the reins as the full-time starter. Rodgers would go on to have a bumpy two seasons in the Big Apple, which included a torn Achilles and no playoff appearances. However, in the final 10 games of the 2024 season, he threw 18 touchdowns and just four interceptions.
Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean / USA Today
Former Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers runs off the field after a win over the Tennessee Titans in 2024.
The Jets, who are now 0-7 on the 2025 season, decided to pass on keeping Rodgers. That made way for him to join the Steelers this offseason.
Steelers-Packers Is A Battle Of Super Bowl Contenders
The simple fact of the matter is that this matchup between these two teams on Sunday night in front of the NFL world will have massive stakes. While the Rodgers-Packers connection will be a massive talking point, both of these teams are leading their respective divisions. The Packers are leading the NFC North with a record of 4-1-1. In fact, thanks to star pass-rusher Micah Parsons's three-sack performance against the Arizona Cardinals last Sunday, Green Bay is sitting in the top spot in the NFC as the only team in the conference with one loss. They are hoping to stay ahead of the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears in their division with a victory this coming Sunday.
The Steelers are looking to get back on track after losing a shootout to Joe Flacco and the Cincinnati Bengals last Thursday night. Still, they are sitting at an overall record of 4-2 and in first place in the AFC North. Rodgers (105.0 passer rating) has looked great through the first third of the season, while the Pittsburgh defense is looking to find some consistency after giving up 30+ points in a single game once again in 2025.
Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' TJ Watt and Keeanu Benton get home on a sack of Joe Flacco while playing the Cincinnati Bengals in 2025.
When both of these teams are playing at their best, they look like real Super Bowl contenders. Whichever team wins this game, they are going to gain some real momentum as the cold weather starts to move in. Furthermore, this game looks like it could be a once-in-a-generation type of battle. These are two of the greatest franchises not just in the NFL, but in sports as a whole. Both teams are leading their divisions. Rodgers is playing against his former team and the quarterback whom he helped tutor in Love. This battle is very reminiscent of the 2009 matchup between the Brett Favre-led Minnesota Vikings and the Aaron Rodgers-led Packers. The master against the apprentice. All in all, this showdown has a real chance to be one of the great games in the league this year.
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