No revenge, just football. Two-plus decades into a Hall-of-Fame career that reshaped the Packers’ identity, Aaron Rodgers faces his former team for the first time since leaving Green Bay this Sunday night on NBC and Peacock. After eighteen years with the Packers and two with the Jets, the veteran signal-caller leads the Pittsburgh Steelers into a Sunday-night showdown at Acrisure Stadium.
As the four-time MVP prepares to square off against his old team under the lights on Sunday Night Football, let’s revisit the blockbuster trade and key storylines for his return ahead of Packers vs. Steelers on Sunday Night Football.
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Why did Aaron Rodgers leave the Green Bay Packers?
After Green Bay drafted its apparent quarterback of the future in Jordan Love in 2020, Rodgers later admitted he “knew the clock had started.” The Packers wanted a succession plan, but Rodgers wanted a say. That tension lingered through two more MVP seasons and another playoff miss. By March 2023, he had already declared his “intention” to play elsewhere. Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst and head coach Matt LaFleur were already preparing for Love’s takeover, and after Rodgers’ self-described “darkness retreat,” both sides agreed it was time to split.
Aaron Rodgers Packers-Jets trade details
The trade became official on April 24, 2023, ending the most dramatic standoff of that season.
Jets received: Aaron Rodgers, 2023 first-round pick (No. 15), and 2023 fifth-round pick (No. 170).
Packers received: 2023 first-round pick (No. 13), 2023 second-round pick (No. 42), 2023 sixth-round pick (No. 207), and a conditional 2024 second-round pick that would’ve upgraded to a first if Rodgers played 65 percent of the Jets’ offensive snaps.
He never hit that mark, as his Achilles ruptured four snaps into his Jets debut.
What did Packers GM Brian Gutekunst say about Aaron Rodgers?
Gutekunst has kept his tone diplomatic but firm. In 2023, he told reporters, “Aaron is obviously up there in age. He’s got some really good football left, but having Jordan sit another year would’ve really delayed his development.”
He also admitted that timing mattered, saying, “moving forward with compensation in this year’s draft was an important factor.”
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Aaron Rodgers career stats, awards with Packers
Rodgers was among the best players of his generation during his 18-year run in Green Bay, where he set countless team and NFL records, all while producing elite numbers in a stretch with the Packers that resulted in a 147-75-1 overall record.
Stats below from Rodgers’ time in Green Bay (2005-2022)
230 games played (223 starts)
59,055 passing yards
475 touchdowns
65.3 completion percentage
147-75-1 overall record
Awards
4x NFL Most Valuable Player
Super Bowl XLV Champion
Super Bowl XLV Most Valuable Player
10x Pro Bowl
4x All-Pro first team
Who won the Aaron Rodgers trade?
Three seasons later, the results are in – and they lean Green Bay. Jordan Love has led the Packers to back-to-back playoff appearances and sits in the top ten in the NFL in passing rating this year, validating Green Bay’s gamble. His composure and ball security have kept Green Bay competitive despite being one of the league’s youngest rosters.
Rodgers, meanwhile, never reached the postseason in two seasons with the Jets, where his debut season was cut short by a torn Achilles and his second was derailed by inconsistency and offensive injuries. His move to Pittsburgh has revived his efficiency – tied for fourth in touchdown passes through seven weeks – but the Packers have already reaped tangible returns.
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What players joined Aaron Rodgers on the Jets?
Several of Rodgers’ veteran teammates in Green Bay eventually made their way to New York, including wide receivers Randall Cobb, Allen Lazard, and QB Tim Boyle.
What did Aaron Rodgers say about facing the Packers?
Aaron Rodgers downplayed any talk of revenge or bad blood heading into Sunday night. Speaking to reporters this week, the Steelers quarterback said he doesn’t hold resentment toward Green Bay or anyone in the organization.
“I don’t have any animosity toward the organization,” Rodgers said. “Obviously, I wish that things had been better in our last year there. 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.”
He still ranks first in Packers history in touchdown passes, completion percentage, and passer rating.
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How to watch Packers vs Steelers on Peacock and NBC
Date: Sunday, October 26
Time: Live coverage begins at 7:00 PM ET with Football Night in America
Where: Acrisure Stadium - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
TV: NBC
Streaming: Peacock