Steelers' Aaron Rodgers Rejects 'Revenge Game' vs. Packers, 'Don't Have Any Animosity'

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers rejected the notion that his first-ever meeting with his old team is a "revenge game."

Ahead of Sunday night's clash with the Green Bay Packers, Rodgers downplayed the revenge aspect of the game on Wednesday, telling reporters:

"I don't have any animosity toward the organization. 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."

The 41-year-old Rodgers signed a one-year contract with the Steelers during the offseason after spending 18 seasons with the Packers and two with the New York Jets.

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Rodgers built a Hall of Fame résumé in Green Bay, earning 10 Pro Bowl nods, four First Team All-Pro selections, four NFL MVP Awards, one Super Bowl win and one Super Bowl MVP Award.

With the Packers opting to give Jordan Love an opportunity to be their new franchise quarterback, they traded Rodgers to the Jets prior to the 2023 season.

Hopes were high for Rodgers and the Jets entering that campaign, but Rodgers tore his Achilles during the first series of New York's first game of the season against the Buffalo Bills.

Despite being north of 40 years of age, Rodgers returned in time for the start of the 2024 season, and he started all 17 games for the Jets, although he posted a disappointing 5-12 record.

Rodgers did show that he had something left in the tank, though, completing 63.0 percent of his passes for 3,897 yards, 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

That wasn't enough to save Rodgers' job in New York, as the Jets released the veteran quarterback amid a sea of changes, including a new general manager and head coach.

The potential landing spots for Rodgers quickly dried up, leaving Pittsburgh as the only possibility since the Steelers lost both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields in free agency.

Thus far, Rodgers has provided the 4-2 Steelers with competent quarterback play, completing 68.6 percent of his passing attempts for 1,270 yards, 14 touchdowns and five picks.

While it is fair to wonder if Rodgers may want to prove to the Packers that he is still a quality quarterback and that they made a mistake by moving on from him, Rodgers' comments suggest it is all love from his perspective.