It didn’t take long for NFL fans to realize that Aaron Rodgers’ decision to sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers meant a home game in Week 8 against his former team, the Green Bay Packers.
There are plenty of layers to that, but the most intriguing is that the quarterback Green Bay drafted to replace Rodgers will get to match up with him in a game for the first time.
That’s Jordan Love, who has grown into a rising star himself for the Packers. And he’s excited about the opportunity.
“It’s going to be fun. It’s going to be awesome. I’m excited for it,” Love said, via beat reporter Jason Wilde. “I can’t wait to be on different sides, meeting up, and I know we’ll talk pre-game, things like that. And hopefully we can exchange jerseys after.”
Love was a first-round pick in 2020 despite Rodgers still being in his relative prime. Rodgers responded to the pick by winning an MVP in back to back years.
But the Packers eventually traded Rodgers to the Jets in 2023, letting Love step in as the starter.
“I appreciate definitely the way A-Rod handled being in that situation, and I think a big part of it — which he told me — was he knew how it was for him being in that same position, and the things that he went through and the way the situation might’ve been handled,” Love told Wilde. “I think his perspective was, ‘I’m trying to go about this a little bit differently,’ which I think was awesome. In my time with A-Rod, we had a great relationship. It was awesome being in the same room with him, being able to learn. He was amazing with everything. And I definitely appreciate the way he handled everything on the outside with obviously him leaving and me taking over, and he’s been very supportive of me [since]. It definitely helped with some of the negativity that might’ve come with that. But A-Rod handled it like a pro and did very right by me.”
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Rodgers, of course, had backed up Brett Favre for multiple seasons after his own selection in the first round.
History has a way of repeating itself, and now these two QBs always tied to a beginning and ending together in Green Bay will get a chance to duke it out on the field.
Love is glad Rodgers chose to keep playing to create this opportunity.
“There were also some rumors that he might be done, so just knowing he’s going to keep playing, that’s pretty awesome,” Love said.
Week 8’s showdown is slated to be on Sunday Night Football, and it should be a blast.
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