For three seasons, Aaron Rodgers mentored Jordan Love on the Green Bay Packers until the four-time MVP was traded to the Jets, and now the teammates-turned-rivals will face off for the first time
15:06 ET, 23 Oct 2025Updated 15:06 ET, 23 Oct 2025
Aaron Rodgers and Jordan Love were in the Packers quarterback room for three seasons
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Aaron Rodgers and Jordan Love were in the Packers quarterback room for three seasons(Image: Getty Images)
Jordan Love heaped praise on Aaron Rodgers as the Pittsburgh Steelers prepare to host the Green Bay Packers.
Rodgers enjoyed 18 years as a member of the Packers — winning Super Bowl XLV — after he was drafted in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft. However, he was traded to the New York Jets after it became clear that Green Bay was willing to move on from Rodgers and progress with Love in 2023 and beyond.
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The Packers selected Love in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, as the franchise began to set up for life after Rodgers in the same way they had with Brett Favre. However, Rodgers hit back by winning back-to-back MVP awards in 2020 and 2021 to prove the franchise had erred in picking a quarterback so early.
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But it seems the franchise didn’t misstep. Love has developed into a fine starter in the league with mesmerising potential; he has led the Packers to the playoffs in his first two seasons as a starter, and inked a blockbuster $220 million extension with the NFC North franchise.
Rodgers’ style appeared to have rubbed off on Love, who made sure to praise the four-time MVP’s impact on his career during the first few seasons ahead of their first meeting as rivals. Asked about his experience sitting behind Rodgers, Love told reporters: “I didn’t know what to expect coming into it.
“Obviously, being a first-round pick, having A-Rod there, there’s a lot of question marks. You never know how that’s going to be. But I think obviously getting here, just being around A-Rod, being in the quarterback room, those guys welcomed me in with open arms and were great.”
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Aaron Rodgers has helped the Steelers to an impressive 4-2 record
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Aaron Rodgers has helped the Steelers to an impressive 4-2 record(Image: Getty Images)
He added: “Aaron was great. I think anytime just being in the quarterback room you want to have a great relationship with everybody in your own room, just to make it a fun environment for what you’re going to be every day so I think coming into it, I didn’t know what to expect but Aaron was great to me all three years, and I think really everybody else in that quarterback room with us from my time has been great.
“We’ve had no issues, and it’s been a great room to be a part of.”
The clash between the Packers and Steelers on Sunday will represent the first time Rodgers faces his former team, as well as Love’s first clash against his mentor.
Through six games, Love is having his best season yet with a 69.3 completion percentage with 10 touchdowns, two interceptions, and a 108.1 passer rating for the 4-1-1 Packers. Meanwhile, Rodgers has tallied a 68.6 percent completion rate with 14 touchdowns, five picks, and a 105.0 passer rating in his first season for the 4-2 Steelers.
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Both teams are at the top of their respective divisions, making the contest all the more likely to be a classic. The Packers travel to Acrisure Stadium to face the Steelers on Sunday Night Football on Oct. 26.