Aaron Rodgers played the last two years with the New York Jets. In both of those years, the team underperformed and that led to the two sides parting ways this offseason. Now, the future Hall of Fame quarterback is a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Shockingly, Rodgers and the Jets will not have to wait long to face off against each other. New York and the Steelers will play in Week 1.
Both sides will be out to prove something. Rodgers will want to show that the Jets made a mistake by giving up on him, while New York will be looking to prove that without him, they can get back to being a playoff-caliber contender.
Aaron Rodgers throws a football out of the seventh tee box prior to the American Century Championship at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course on July 10, 2025 in Stateline, Nevada.
Aaron Rodgers throws a football out of the seventh tee box prior to the American Century Championship at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course on July 10, 2025 in Stateline, Nevada.
Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images
With the matchup looming large as the 2025 season continues to draw closer, one of Rodgers’ former teammates on the Jets has spoken out with a stern warning to him.
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Will McDonald, one of New York’s pass rushers, is hoping to sack his former quarterback.
“I always wanted to sack Rodgers from when I was a little kid…actually, let me not say that cause as a little kid I wasn’t even interested in playing football. I did watch him though, I watched him a lot,” McDonald said.
There could not be a clearer warning for Rodgers. He is going to be facing a team that wants to make him fail. The Jets want to defeat him and prove that they made the right decision to move away from Rodgers and bring in Justin Fields to replace him.
During the 2024 NFL season, Rodgers proved that he still has good football left in him. He completed 63 percent of his pass attempts for 3,897 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions, while playing in all 17 games.
Being able to produce those numbers one year removed from a torn Achilles was an impressive showing.
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Mike Tomlin and Pittsburgh have just one goal. The Steelers want to win a Super Bowl and they made aggressive moves to pursue that goal. Outside of signing Rodgers as a free agent, the front office went out and traded for DK Metcalf, Jalen Ramsey, and Jonnu Smith.
Needless to say, Week 1 is going to be pure football entertainment. Rodgers will be going up against his former team and that former team is hoping to make him suffer through a miserable game.
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