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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been in the NFL long enough that his career now spans generations.
According to ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter, the Steelers’ Week 17 matchup offers a striking full-circle moment. Twenty years ago, in 2005, Rodgers played the second half of a blowout loss against the Baltimore Ravens on the same night Deion Sanders intercepted Brett Favre. Two decades later, Rodgers is preparing to start against Sanders’ son, rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders, when Pittsburgh visits Sanders and the Cleveland Browns.
“I didn’t throw him a pick, thankfully,” Rodgers joked when discussing facing the elder Sanders years ago.
The moment marked the beginning of a career arc that has since made Rodgers one of the most efficient passers in league history. Now 42, he enters Sunday’s game leading a Pittsburgh team on the brink of its first AFC North title since 2020.
Heading into the matchup, nostalgia won’t keep Rodgers and the Steelers from hopefully achieving their goal. However, the Pittsburgh quarterback did admit his admiration for the younger Sanders and the trials the rookie has faced with the Browns this season, including Sanders’ infamous 2025 NFL Draft slide to the fifth round.
“I’ve followed Shedeur’s career, being a football fan,” Rodgers said. “I’ve watched him go from Jackson to Boulder, and with that being a former PAC 12 school, so, obviously, I was pulling for him. It was a tough draft slide. Obviously, a much longer wait than mine was. But it seems like he’s been patient and working on his craft. He’s been playing pretty good these last few weeks.”
Against Rodgers and the Steelers, Sanders will make his sixth career start for the Browns. The rookie has thrown for 1,103 yards with six touchdowns and eight interceptions while adding 123 rushing yards. The Browns are 1-4 in his starts, but can play spoiler against a Steelers team seeking to clinch the division.
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