Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers at training camp on July 25, 2025. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
The Pittsburgh Steelers open up the 2025 regular season with a road game against the New York Jets. And while the matchup will be headlined by quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers and Justin Fields facing their former teams, another storyline has now materialized.
Jets pass rusher Will McDonald IV, their first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, is very excited about the opportunity to bring down his former teammate.
“I’ve always wanted to sack Rodgers,” McDonald said. “When I first came here, obviously, I wasn’t able to do that because we were a team. Now, I think he’s gonna be very competitive. I’m sure he already knows what I’m about, so I’m sure he’s gonna have his head on his shoulders.”
McDonald is coming off a breakout season. In 2024, he recorded a career-high 28 tackles, 10.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and three passes defensed.
New York Jets pass rusher Will McDonald IV chases down Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson on Oct. 20, 2024 — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
The 26-year-old wants to continue taking his game to another level this season, and the chance to put Rodgers in the dirt will only add to his motivation.
McDonald will have a good chance to do just that, too. New York likely has a good idea of how to attack Rodgers following his two-year tenure with the team and he has a new offensive line in front of him in Pittsburgh.
However, McDonald still doesn’t think it will be that easy.
“He’s a vet,” McDonald continued. “So I’m sure he’s got a couple tricks up his sleeve.”
Health will be a big factor in Rodgers’ and the Steelers’ success in 2025. So keeping the 41-year-old quarterback up right will be top priority for Pittsburgh starting in Week 1.
McDonald has 42 tackles, 13.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and three passes defensed through the first two years of his NFL career.
Mentioned In This Article: Aaron Rodgers New York Jets Pittsburgh Steelers Steelers Will McDonald IV