Steelers’ Aaron Rodgers Not Treating Packers Matchup As ‘Revenge Game’

Aaron Rodgers will lead the Pittsburgh Steelers into what could be a highly emotional Week 8 contest against the Green Bay Packers. The quarterback insisted he’s not seeking payback over his former team.

“I don’t have any animosity toward the organization,” Rodgers told reporters on Wednesday, per ESPN’s Brooke Pryor. “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, and 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 won four MVPs and a Super Bowl during his long tenure in Green Bay. The Packers traded the future Hall of Famer to the New York Jets after the 2022 season, handing the offense over to 2020 first-round pick Jordan Love.

While Rodgers won’t return to Lambeau Field, he’ll play his former team for the first time since leaving. The two sides didn’t part ways on the cleanest of terms, but Rodgers has had plenty of time to process the split and recall happier moments with the organization.

“Absence makes the heart grow fonder, maybe,” Rodgers said. “I have a lot of great memories from my time there. … I grew up there. I spent 18 years there from 21 to 39, so I’m thankful for my time there.

“Obviously, would’ve loved to ride off in the sunset after a Super Bowl win, but that’s not the way the league goes sometimes. And I knew the writing was on the wall when Jordan was picked, and as a matter of time, I happened to win MVP the first two years he was with us. But I knew at some point there would be a change, and if I wanted to play, it’d probably have to be elsewhere. So I understand the situation.”

Rodgers then spent a tumultuous two seasons with the Jets, whom he defeated to start his Steelers career. The 41-year-old has led Pittsburgh to a 4-2 start with 14 passing touchdowns and a 105.0 quarterback rating.

Sunday night’s marquee matchup between the Steelers and the Packers begins at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC.

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