Brooke Pryor
PITTSBURGH — Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers does not view Sunday evening's assembly towards the Inexperienced Bay Packers, the workforce that drafted him No. 24 in 2005 and with whom he spent the primary 18 years of his profession, as a “revenge recreation,” he mentioned Wednesday.
“I haven't got any animosity towards the group,” he mentioned. “Clearly, I want that issues had been higher in our final yr there, however I've a terrific relationship with lots of people nonetheless in that group, and this isn't a revenge recreation for me. I am simply excited to see a few of these guys and be on ‘Sunday Evening Soccer' once more.”
Rodgers, in fact, took over for Brett Favre because the workforce's full-time starter in 2008 and spent 15 seasons in that function earlier than orchestrating a commerce to the New York Jets in April 2023. Rogers' exit put in 2020 first-round choose Jordan Love because the Packers' new beginning quarterback.
Rodgers, although, mentioned that whereas there are similarities between his and Love's state of affairs and the one which unfolded with Favre, this assembly of latest and previous is not as charged — for the quarterbacks or the fan bases — because the one which occurred in 2009. That season, Favre, as a member of the Minnesota Vikings, performed towards the Packers on the Metrodome in Week 4 on “Monday Evening Soccer.”
“Brett acquired traded, after which he went to one of many hated rivals,” Rodgers mentioned, explaining the distinction. “I used to be in New Jersey for a pair years.”
After beating the Jets, with whom he spent two dismal and injury-marred seasons, in Week 1, Rodgers mentioned it was “good” to beat certainly one of his former groups, however it did not “come near feeling how it'll really feel taking part in Inexperienced Bay as a result of that is 18 years of my profession.”
On Wednesday, Rodgers clarified that these emotions would differ if Sunday evening's recreation weren't at Acrisure Stadium.
“It will really feel completely different if I used to be going again to Inexperienced Bay,” mentioned Rodgers, who gained a Tremendous Bowl with the Packers after the 2010 season. “I've a variety of love for the group, but when we have been taking part in in Lambeau, that may be somewhat completely different feeling for positive.”
Coach Mike Tomlin mentioned Tuesday that he does not anticipate Rodgers to method this recreation any otherwise from different matchups this season.
Rodgers performed his final recreation at Lambeau on Jan. 8, 2022, throwing a landing and an interception in a 20-16 loss to the Detroit Lions. Practically 4 months later, he was a Jet. The commerce was precipitated by the workforce's choice of Love with its first-round choose within the 2020 NFL draft. Rodgers gained back-to-back MVP awards after the workforce added Love, however by 2022, the veteran knew his time with the group was coming to an finish. Although his departure and the method of it created a tenuous relationship with the Packers on the time, Rodgers mentioned his emotions towards the group have developed within the years since leaving Inexperienced Bay.
“Absence makes the guts develop fonder, possibly,” he mentioned with a smile. “Have a variety of nice recollections from my time there. … I grew up there. I spent 18 years there from 21 to 39, so I am grateful for my time there.
“Clearly, would've cherished to journey off within the sundown after a Tremendous Bowl win, however that is not the best way the league goes typically, and I knew the writing was on the wall when Jordan was picked, and as a matter of time, I occurred to win MVP the primary two years he was with us. However I knew in some unspecified time in the future there can be a change, and if I needed to play, it'd most likely must be elsewhere. So I perceive the state of affairs. We dwell and we study.”
Rodgers mentioned he nonetheless corresponds with Love, and he even exchanged a few texts with him earlier this season as a result of the Steelers and Packers had some widespread opponents.
“He is a terrific child, man,” Rodgers mentioned. “He actually is. I loved my time with him. I am not shocked by how he is taking part in. He is taking part in nice. His development was like mine, type of the place you simply type of, first yr, you are getting your toes moist. Second yr, you are feeling somewhat bit extra assured. By the point the third yr comes round, you are able to play.”
In Inexperienced Bay, Love informed reporters Wednesday that he texted with Rodgers as just lately as a few weeks in the past.
“A-Rod texted me and was speaking about a few of the performs we would run and a few of my footwork, issues like that, complimenting me, so clearly it is nice to have the ability to hear from him. I've acquired a lot respect for him, and anytime he provides me pointers, stuff like that, clearly you need to get suggestions from a legend like that,” he mentioned.
Rodgers additionally identified that each of them earned the possibility to take the reins of the franchise when an harm to the beginning quarterback opened a window of alternative. Rodgers sat behind Favre for the higher a part of three seasons, however Rodgers shined when the beloved veteran acquired harm towards the Dallas Cowboys in 2007. Although the Packers misplaced that recreation, Rodgers accomplished 18 of 26 makes an attempt for 201 yards and a landing. Greater than a decade later, Rodgers harm a thumb in a 2022 recreation towards the Philadelphia Eagles. Love got here in after the third-quarter harm and accomplished 6 of 9 makes an attempt for 113 yards and a landing.
Packers coach Matt LaFleur mentioned Wednesday that Rodgers “was superior” to Love after they have been each in Inexperienced Bay.
“He did a terrific job simply being supportive with him, making an attempt to offer him nuggets on a regular basis, and I believe Jordan leaned into that, and simply the mastery that he has of our offense, of the safety schemes that we do, I believed it was nice for each folks,” he mentioned.
Since signing a one-year contract with the Steelers in Might following a protracted courtship in free company, Rodgers has endeared himself to the group and his new teammates. He invited the offensive linemen and different quarterbacks to hitch him in a collection at PNC Enviornment to observe the Penguins beat the Vancouver Canucks 5-1 on Tuesday evening. He was additionally joined by former Steelers defensive finish Brett Keisel. After apply Wednesday, Rodgers expressed an appreciation for the Steelers as a company and for the town as a passionate sports activities city — and identified comparisons together with his former workforce.
“There's only some of these type of cornerstone franchises within the league,” Rodgers mentioned. “Packers have clearly been round for over 100 years, and the Steelers have been round for a very long time. We have a terrific historical past. It is a terrific sports activities city. We have been on the hockey recreation final evening, so I noticed Sid [Sidney Crosby] rating a objective — Sid, Tang [Kris Letang] and Gino [Evgeni Malkin] have all been on the workforce I believe 21 years, which is superb. I am in my twenty first season, so I understand how laborious it's to stay round so long as these guys have. There's one thing particular in regards to the connection.
“… In Inexperienced Bay and in Pittsburgh, there's iconic gamers and so they come again round, and so they dwell within the metropolis, and so they name Pittsburgh house full time and there is one thing particular about that. At all times mentioned there's one thing within the water whenever you have a look at the good quarterbacks which have come from the world, however it's enjoyable to be part of this group, and the long-lasting Packers group for therefore lengthy, too.”
ESPN's Rob Demovsky contributed to this report.
