MADISON — There’s a very important date circled — well, digitally anyway — on Jordan Love’s calendar. 

No, it’s not October 26.

It’s June 29.

That’s when the Green Bay Packers quarterback will marry longtime girlfriend Ronika Stone, as the two made sure their nuptials wouldn’t conflict with the start of Packers training camp or Stone’s professional volleyball season.

“Three more weeks,” a smiling Love said during a break in Friday’s first round of the American Family Insurance Championship at TPC Wisconsin.

That October 26 date is a little further away, but Love knows exactly what is scheduled to happen on that day, too: Him facing off with Aaron Rodgers, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ new starting quarterback — as well as Love’s former teammate, mentor and friend — when the Packers visit Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh for a prime-time “Sunday Night Football” showdown.

Love, who mingled with fans as a brand ambassador for AmFam during Day 1 of the tournament, learned of Rodgers’ one-year deal with the Steelers on Thursday like the rest of the football world.

“I was excited for A-Rod. I don’t think I was too surprised,” Love said. “I feel like there were a lot of rumors going on throughout the whole offseason about him going to the Steelers.

“I was excited for him, that he was obviously coming back and going to be playing. There were also some rumors that he might be done, so just knowing he’s going to keep playing, that’s pretty awesome.”

That’s also how Love described the way Rodgers treated him after the general manager Brian Gutekunst used his first-round pick on Love in the 2020 NFL Draft — just as the team had done in 2005, when then-GM Ted Thompson took Rodgers in the first round despite having future Pro Football Hall of Famer Brett Favre as his starter.

Rodgers’ signing with the Steelers conjured up memories for Love about how Rodgers mentored him during their three seasons (2020-’22) together — and how Favre’s treatment of him shaped how Rodgers approached his relationship with Love.

“I appreciate definitely the way A-Rod handled being in that situation, and I think a big part of it was — which he told me — was he knew how it was for him being in that same position, and the things that he went through and the way the situation might’ve been handled [differently],” Love recounted before conducting an impromptu autograph session with fans. “I think his perspective was, ‘I’m trying to go about this a little bit differently,’ which I think was awesome.

“In my time with A-Rod, we had a great relationship. It was awesome being in the same room with him, being able to learn. He was amazing with everything. And I definitely appreciate the way he handled everything on the outside with obviously him leaving and me taking over, and he’s been very supportive of me [since].

“It definitely helped with some of the negativity that might’ve come with that. But A-Rod handled it like a pro and did me very right.”

Rodgers’ exit in April 2023, when he was traded to the New York Jets, was far different than Favre’s 2008 departure, even though he was traded to the same organization.

That summer, of course, Favre unretired and showed up at training camp, ostensibly to reclaim his old job but in actuality in hopes of being released so he could sign with the Minnesota Vikings.

Being booed by Packers fans and having fervent Favre supporters hurl insults at him left a mark on Rodgers, as did Favre’s public and private proclamations that it wasn’t his job to “mentor” his successor.

Although Rodgers and Favre eventually rebuilt a friendship, Rodgers was determined not to treat Love the way he’d been treated by Favre. 

“How can you not be changed by those experiences?” Rodgers said in an August 2021. “I mean, that definitely shaped the direction of my career, I think both professionally and personally, and I think that was an important time of growth for me. And so I definitely harken back to that summer at various times, and thought about putting myself in [Love’s] shoes. What’s he got to be feeling, what are his emotions, how is this for him.

“That was important for me and it’s not going to change. I have a lot of respect and love for Jordan, and I understand it’s got to be tough, what he went through. I can understand a little bit about what he’s going through, so I just try to keep that in mind the entire time.”

Asked Friday if Rodgers’ treatment of him is one of the reasons why Packers-Steelers won’t be some kind of grudge match against the guy he replaced, Love replied, “Definitely. I think a lot of that was. He’d been through the very same situation I was in, and he knew what it feels like to be in that situation.

“I think that’s just a testament to his character and the way he treats people. He was trying to go about it differently than it was for him. And I was grateful for that.”

Now, make no mistake: The 26-year-old Love is a fierce competitor just like the 41-year-old Rodgers still is, and he certainly wants to beat the Steelers and outplay his friend. But the game will have a decidedly less bloodthirsty vibe than the times Favre faced the Packers with the Vikings in 2009 and 2010.

“It’s going to be fun. It’s going to be awesome. I’m excited for it,” Love said. “I can’t wait to be on different sides, meeting up, and I know we’ll talk pre-game, things like that. And hopefully we can exchange jerseys after.”

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