Aaron Rodgers Insists Week 1 Against Jets Isn’t Personal — But Everyone Knows Better

On paper, Week 1 between the Steelers and Jets is just another regular-season opener. But in reality, the storyline writes itself: Aaron Rodgers, now the starting quarterback in Pittsburgh, will square off against the Jets, the franchise that unceremoniously cut him this past spring.

The idea of “revenge games” has always captivated the NFL world, even when players downplay them. Rodgers, unsurprisingly, has taken the low-key approach. When asked directly if he had any feelings about opening the season against his former team, the 41-year-old quarterback brushed it aside in typical fashion.

“It’s Week 1,” Rodgers said dryly.

And while he’s not wrong—Week 1 should be about execution, not narratives—Rodgers’ dismissal is telling. When competitors of his stature say it doesn’t matter, it usually means it does. A lot.

Because make no mistake: this matchup matters to Rodgers. He spent much of the offseason publicly airing his grievances, most notably during an hour-long appearance on ESPN’s The Pat McAfee Show, where he vented about how the Jets handled his release. He accused new head coach Aaron Glenn of disrespect, pointed out that the franchise made him pay his own way across the country to be told he wasn’t wanted, and gave the impression he felt scapegoated for two disappointing years in New York.

Rodgers may have tried to project calm this summer, but few around the league believe he has truly made peace with how his time with the Jets ended. His track record suggests otherwise—this is a quarterback who has built a Hall of Fame career on perceived slights and internal motivation. Expect him to channel that competitive fire in his Steelers debut.

For Jets fans, this game carries a double layer of intrigue. Not only does it mark the beginning of the Aaron Glenn era, but it also forces them to watch a familiar face—one who promised greatness but delivered five wins in two years—potentially come back to MetLife and find the success he couldn’t provide in green.

So while Rodgers insists it’s “just Week 1,” the stakes are undeniable. This is personal, whether he admits it or not. The Jets want to prove they’re better off without him. Rodgers wants to prove they made a mistake. And the fans? They just want a reason to believe again.