The AFC North-leading Pittsburgh Steelers are preparing to face the NFC North-leading Green Bay Packers on Sunday Night Football this week in what could be one of the games of the year in the NFL. Part of the reason this game is so big is that it marks the first time four-time MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers will face off against his old team. Remember, Rodgers spent 18 seasons (2005-2022) of his illustrious career in Green Bay. He was the full-time starter for 15 seasons. During that time, he guided the franchise to 11 playoff appearances, eight division titles, five NFC Championship Game appearances, and a much-needed Super Bowl win.
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Steelers' Aaron Rodgers with former Green Bay Packers teammate Randall Cobb hugging on the sideline.
While Rodgers recently stated that Sunday night's matchup with his old team is not a revenge game, current ESPN analyst and former Steelers defensive back Ryan Clark believes Rodgers will still have a chip on his shoulder when he takes the field. Below is what Clark had to say on Thursday morning about Rodgers's Sunday night motivation via First Take.
"His entire career has been about revenge. His entire career has been lived in a permanent state of pettiness, and that's part of what makes him great," Clark stated. "He always played as if he had something to prove. When Jordan Love was drafted, [the pettiness] came back."
Clark, who was on the losing side of Super Bowl XLV between the Packers and Steelers, believes the 10-time Pro-Bowl selection will play with fire on Sunday night because he still feels disrespected that Green Bay chose to go with his understudy, Jordan Love, after the 2022 season. That is what led to him being traded to the New York Jets that offseason.
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Former New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers looks on before a home game during the 2024 season.
However, after tearing his Achilles in 2023 and experiencing a slow start to the 2024 season, Rodgers has since regained some of his MVP form. In his last 16 games played between the second half of 2024 with the Jets and the beginning of 2025 with the Steelers, he has thrown 32 touchdowns and just nine interceptions. It seems as though he has proven a lot of people wrong and is a big reason why Pittsburgh can go on a deep run this season.
Steelers' Aaron Rodgers Will Need To Overcome A Tough Packers Defense
While Rodgers (105.0 passer rating) has played at a high level this season, and although he will likely have a nice time seeing a lot of his old teammates on Sunday, when the ball is kicked off, it won't be a friendly battle. These are two division leaders with Super Bowl aspirations. This is not a friendly gathering in the backyard. Rodgers will need to find a way to overcome Green Bay defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley and his elite defense. Led by star pass-rusher Micah Parsons, who had three sacks in the team's win over the Arizona Cardinals last week, this unit is a tough out for anybody. It ranks sixth in total defense (288.5 yards allowed per game) and second in run defense (76.5 yards allowed per game). However, if Pittsburgh's offensive line can give Rodgers just enough time, the offense, which is in the top third of the NFL in scoring (25.0 points per game), could make some magic happen.
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Steelers' Aaron Rodgers celebrates with Pat Freiermuth after a big play during a win over the Cleveland Browns in 2025.
Rodgers has accomplished everything that young quarterbacks dream about growing up. However, he does have a chance to make more history this weekend. If he can lead his team to a win in prime time, he will become just the fifth quarterback in NFL history to defeat all 32 franchises. He would join Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, his predecessor Brett Favre, and Drew Brees. That would be another feather in the cap of a very rare career. All eyes will be on the legend as he faces his longtime team for perhaps the one and only time in his multi-decade career.
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