Steelers Now
PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has nothing but gratitude toward his former team the Green Bay Packers. He made it clear during his media availability on Wednesday that Sunday night is not a revenge game.
“I don’t have any animosity toward the organization,” Rodgers said. “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. This is not a revenge game for me.”
Despite a rocky ending, Rodgers has nothing but fond memories of his 18 years in Green Bay.
“Absence makes the heart grow fonder, I guess. … I grew up there,” the four-time NFL MVP said.
Rodgers said he knew his time as the Packers’ starter was coming to a close when Jordan Love arrived in 2020.
“I knew at some point there would be a change, and if I wanted to play, it’d probably have to be elsewhere… I have nothing but love and appreciation for the fan base, for the city of Green Bay,” Rodgers said.
During his Monday press conference, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur also downplayed the revenge game narrative of playing Rodgers.
“We’re playing the Pittsburgh Steelers, who happen to have Aaron Rodgers. It’s as simple as that. That is for you guys to talk about,” LaFleur said. “Granted, I mean we’ve got a lot of respect and love for Aaron. I mean, what he’s done here. He is a Hall of Famer. And I know our past together, we had a lot of great moments. But this game is not about that”
LaFleur added, “I don’t even know if many of these guys played with him. There’s a few guys but I think that’s just — it’s for you guys.”
Love told the Green Bay media on Wednesday that he and Rodgers still talk every now and then.
“A lot of it is just saying good luck throughout the season … we got a great relationship,” he said.
Sunday night’s game will have an endless amount of storylines with Rodgers playing Green Bay for the first time since departing after the 2022 season.
Rodgers can become one of five quarterbacks in NFL history to beat all 32 teams with a win over the Packers on Sunday night.
With a win over the Packers, Rodgers will join Brett Favre, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and Drew Brees on the all-time list of QBs to beat all 32 NFL teams.
Alan Saunders provided reporting from Pittsburgh.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Aaron Rodgers Has No Animosity Toward Packers: ‘Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder’
