Aaron Rodgers was not a happy camper when it came time to leave the Green Bay Packers following the 2022 season.
So to hear Rodgers insist he harbors no grudges seems a bit wild as he leads the host Pittsburgh Steelers against his former team of 18 seasons on Sunday night.
Rodgers says he’s not out for retribution when he squares off against former coach Matt LaFleur and now-star quarterback Jordan Love, his former backup in Green Bay.
“I don’t have any animosity toward the organization,” Rodgers said. “Obviously, I wish that things had been better in our last year there, but I have a great relationship with a lot of people still in that organization. This is not a revenge game for me. I’m just excited to see some of those guys and be on ‘Sunday Night Football’ again.”
Rodgers was Green Bay’s first-round draft pick (24th overall) in 2005 and his potential helped drive Packers legend Brett Favre out of town.
The Packers made the playoffs 11 times — winning the Super Bowl following the 2010 regular season — during Rodgers’ 15 seasons as a starter. He tossed 475 regular-season touchdown passes with Green Bay and his career total sits at 517 entering Sunday.
Also, Rodgers has played solidly for the Steelers (4-2) this season, completing 68.6% of his passes for 1,270 yards, 14 touchdowns and five interceptions.
LaFleur is also downplaying the first meeting between Rodgers and the Packers.
“We’re playing the Pittsburgh Steelers, who happen to have Aaron Rodgers,” LaFleur said. “It’s as simple as that. That is for you guys to talk about. Granted, I mean, we’ve got a lot of love and respect for Aaron. What he’s done here, I mean, he’s a Hall of Famer. And I know like our past together, we had a lot of great moments, but this game is not about that.”
Love, a first-round pick (26th overall) in 2020, spent three seasons as Rodgers’ backup and his promise helped push Rodgers out the door.
Love has thrown 67 touchdown passes in 38 regular-season games since taking over the full-time starting role in 2023. He has passed for 1,438 yards, 10 touchdowns and two interceptions this season for Green Bay (4-1-1).
“It was definitely difficult … understanding who you’re taking over for,” Love said this week. “The main thing for me was just trying to block all that out and understand that for me, this is a great opportunity. Something I’ve been waiting for, for three years behind him, watching him. So I knew in the back of my head I was ready.”
Rodgers has nothing but praise to throw Love’s way.
“Really happy for him. He’s one of the real good guys in the league,” Rodgers said. “I’m sure his leadership is continuing to grow over there. I like the way he’s playing. He’s super accurate, he’s taking care of the football, he’s being opportunistic, making great throws down the field and using his legs as well.”
The Packers have won consecutive games and are unbeaten over their past three (2-0-1). They recorded a 27-23 road win over the Arizona Cardinals last weekend.
Star playmaker Micah Parsons, acquired from the Dallas Cowboys a week before the season, recorded a career-high three sacks versus the Cardinals. He shares the team lead of 5.5 sacks with fellow defensive lineman Rashan Gary.
Packers star running back Josh Jacobs (414 rushing yards, eight TDs) is bothered by a calf injury and was limited Wednesday. Kicker Brandon McManus (right quadriceps) will be observed closely during the week after missing the past two games.
Pittsburgh won three straight games before falling 33-31 to the host Cincinnati Bengals on Oct. 16.
The defense has allowed more than 30 points three times this season, including both losses. Star T.J. Watt has four sacks, second on the squad behind fellow linebacker Nick Herbig (4.5).
The Steelers have won six of the past seven regular-season meetings, including a 23-19 victory during Love’s first season as a starter in 2023. Also, Rodgers’ lone Super Bowl victory came against Pittsburgh on Feb. 6, 2011.
–Field Level Media
