Aaron Rodgers preseason
Aaron Rodgers preseason
Aaron Rodgers isn’t keen on playing Thursday’s preseason opener against the Green Bay Packers. If the venue was his old stomping grounds, he might feel a little different.
Speaking to reporters Wednesday, Rodgers lamented the fact the game is in Pittsburgh instead of Green Bay.
Aaron Rodgers says he was "really hoping" this preseason game was at Lambeau after last year's game in Pittsburgh. Said he's "bummed out" it's not. Wanted to play in Lambeau, visit his old trainer's room, visit his favorite restaurant Chives and get a quick nine in at GBCC. pic.twitter.com/gXzOrMuFkb
ESPN’s Rob Demovsky added additional quotes in his article, noting Rodgers was hoping to play in Green Bay in order take Lambeau Field again, even if it came as the opposition.
“It would have been strange, being in that [visitors] locker room and stuff, but I would have found my way over, like many former players have over the years,” Rodgers said via Demovsky.
Rodgers faced the Packers in last year’s regular season, but that game was also in Pittsburgh. Rodgers has been sentimental about playing in the venues of teams he once suited up for. Last year, he acknowledged the gravity of returning to the New York Jets’ stadium for the season opener. Rodgers played well in a Steelers win. He downplayed the significance of facing Green Bay later that year, noting it didn’t have the same feeling because the game was held at Acrisure Stadium.
As Rodgers noted, he would’ve been one of many former Packers players to have the chance to return to Green Bay. In 2021, NFL Films captured Rodgers coaxing then-Houston Texans offensive line coach James Campen, a former Packers player and longtime coach, to walk out of the home side tunnel one more time ahead of a preseason game.
“Just come with me…you gave your life to this place,” Rodgers said to Campen as the two eventually walked over to the tunnel.
During his interview, Rodgers noted the future possibility of having his Packers No. 12 retired and entering Green Bay’s Hall of Fame. Both seem like slam dunk moves for the organization to eventually make, with Rodgers calling it a “cool deal” should it happen, per Demovsky.
It’s still unclear if Mike McCarthy will have Rodgers suit up in tomorrow’s contest. Yesterday, McCarthy told reporters the team would make a determination Tuesday night. McCarthy’s first game as the Steelers’ head coach will came against the Packers, the first team who hired him as an NFL head coach in 2006. He spent more than a decade with the franchise and won a Super Bowl.
terrible-podcast-2026-august-12-episode-3138
terrible-podcast-2026-august-12-episode-3138