A POSSIBLE Aaron Rodgers showdown against the New York Jets in 2025 will not be shown on national television.
The NFL released the slate for the entire season this week.
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Aaron Rodgers could return to the New York Jets in Week 1Credit: Getty
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The quarterback played two years for the Jets and is now linked with the Pittsburgh SteelersCredit: Getty
And their broadcast rules block them from being able to make any changes to a potentially intriguing clash.
Rodgers, 41, is yet to decide whether he’ll play for the Pittsburgh Steelers or retire.
The four-time MVP has kept everybody in the dark over his future, including the NFL’s schedule makers.
The full slate revealed this week has the Steelers visiting the New York Jets in Week 1.
That game will be shown at 1 pm ET in a window where there are seven other fixtures.
Rodgers played two seasons for the Jets before being cut this March.
Even if the quarterback does sign for the Steelers, the NFL will be unable to move that game.
Flex scheduling procedures allow the league and broadcasters to switch games into new slots.
But they only kick in from Week 5 onwards.
NFL vice president of broadcast planning Mike North said admitted that the Rodgers uncertainty played a factor in the league’s decision-making.
Best games and biggest showdowns from 2025 NFL Schedule Release
He said, “We don’t know anything more than anybody else.
“If we knew for certain that Aaron was going to be the quarterback of the Steelers, we might’ve done something a little different in Week 1 with the Steelers game.
“The schedule was built for Coach Mike Tomlin and for the Steelers.
“If Aaron decides to play it probably just makes many, if not all, the Steelers games a little more interesting.”
Another potential Rodgers reunion with a former team is the Steelers’ clash with the Green Bay Packers.
NFL WEEK 1 SCHEDULE
(All times ET)
Thur 4 Sept
8.20 pm – Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles
Fri 5 Sept
8pm – Kansas City Chiefs at Los Angeles Chargers
Sun 7 Sept
1pm – Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Atlanta Falcons
1pm – Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns
1pm – Miami Dolphins at Indianapolis Colts
1pm – Las Vegas Raiders at New England Patriots
1pm – Arizona Cardinals at New Orleans Saints
1pm – Pittsburgh Steelers at New York Jets
1pm – New York Giants at Washington Commanders
1pm – Carolina Panthers at Jacksonville Jaguars
4.05 pm – Tennessee Titans at Denver Broncos
4.05 pm – San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks
4.25 pm – Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers
4.25 pm – Houston Texans at Los Angeles Rams
8.20 pm – Baltimore Ravens at Buffalo Bills
Mon 8 Sept
8.15 pm – Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears
He spent almost two decades in Green Bay and won the Super Bowl in 2010.
The Packers-Steelers game has been set for Sunday Night Football in Week 8.
North said, “If you put that game in a window where it does become something even bigger, we wouldn’t want to unbalance maybe one of the partners.
“If it fell on a Sunday afternoon for instance, it becomes a dominant story of the day.
“Aaron’s first game against his old team. So put it in a national window.
“If Aaron’s the quarterback, it’s a great story.
“If Aaron’s not the quarterback, it’s still Packers-Steelers ‘Sunday Night Football’ in Week 8.
“We tried to play it down the middle.”