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Aaron Rodgers’ first game under center for the Pittsburgh Steelers is already a dramatic improvement over the last time he debuted for a new team at MetLife Stadium.
Facing his former team, the New York Jets, Rodgers was met with a chorus of boos on Sunday after two doomed seasons in green.
His first play from scrimmage ended with Rodgers being sacked by ex-teammate Quinnen Williams, but things quickly turned around for the former Super Bowl winner.
Nine players later, Rodgers would find receiver Ben Skowronek with a 22-yard touchdown pass to give Pittsburgh an early 7-3 lead over New York.
Rodgers is coming off two disappointing seasons with the Jets, the first of which began with him rupturing his Achilles on the first drive of the season and missing the remainder of the 2023 campaign.
Since then, the Jets have turned to Justin Fields, who tossed his first touchdown for the Jets on the ensuing possession to take a 9-7 lead. Fields' former Ohio State teammate Garrett Wilson was on the receiving end of the Jets' first touchdown of 2025.
Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and teammates run onto the field prior to Week 1
Rodgers is coming off two disappointing seasons with the Jets, the first of which began with him rupturing his Achilles on the first drive of the season and missing the remainder of 2023
Both Rodgers and Fields got off to go stars with their new teams Sunday.
Fields completed his first four passes for 54 yards and the touchdown to Wilson, while Rodgers began 5 of 7 for 93 yards.
Steelers’ newly acquired star receiver DK Metcalf caught two of Rodgers’ first seven throws for 54 yards.
Daily Mail’s Russ Weakland recently reported that Rodgers viewed Sunday’s game against the Jets as his own personal Super Bowl.
'Aaron's current Super Bowl is the game against the Jets,' the source told Daily Mail. 'If the Steelers lose that game, it would be devastating. Aaron wants to blow them out, not let them score and in a perfect scenario he would win the game by 60 points.'
'This is likely Aaron's last year, and he wants to make it through the season uninjured. If the Steelers don't make the playoffs this year, Aaron's legacy will take a spectacular hit, so this season and the success of it all is important to him.'
Rodgers built his Hall-of-Fame resume in Green Bay, winning a Super Bowl XLV over the Steelers in February of 2011 along with four MVP awards.
But after quarrelling with the Packers’ front office on a number of fronts, he maneuvered his way to the Jets, where things only got worse for the California native.
