Every four years, the Green Bay Packers play the AFC North division. With this week’s news of Aaron Rodgers agreeing to sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers, the NFL has to be very happy that the two North divisions were scheduled to play.
When the Packers travel to Pittsburgh in October, they will try to win in Pittsburgh for the first time since 1970.
Since the NFL’s realignment in 2002, the Steelers are one of the teams the Packers have struggled to beat the most. In six regular-season matchups, the Steelers are 5-1, with the lone regular-season coming in 2021, a 27-17 win at Lambeau Field.
Obviously there was one more win by Rodgers against the Steelers and it came in Super Bowl XLV. Rodgers played arguably one of his best games of his career, finishing with 304 yards and three touchdowns against the NFL’s best defense.
Aaron Rodgers' Super Bowl XLV opponent is now his current team 👀 @NFLLegacy pic.twitter.com/LuEJMhgFV1
— NFL (@NFL) June 5, 2025
It should be noted that Rodgers was the Packers starting quarterback in only two of those six regular-season games. The Packers starting quarterbacks in these matchups: 2005 Brett Favre, 2009 Rodgers, 2013 Matt Flynn, 2017 Brett Hundley, 2021 Rodgers, and 2023 Jordan Love. In both 2013 and 2017, broken collarbones resulted in the Steelers facing the Packers’ backup quarterback.
It was no surprise when the schedule was released last month that the Packers and Steelers were going to play in late October on a Sunday Night. All signs pointed towards Rodgers signing with the Steelers, and playing in his 21st season in 2025.
In all likelihood when Rodgers faces the Packers, which is no guarantee after how his 2023 season went, it will be 10th time in the last 31 years a quarterback were to start against a team he led to a Super Bowl win.
Super Bowl winning QB Year(s) New Team Old Team
Joe Montana 1994 Chiefs 49ers
Trent Dilfer 2005, 2008 Browns/49ers Ravens
Brad Johnson 2008 Cowboys Bucs
Kurt Warner 2005-2009 Cardinals Rams
Brett Favre 2009-2010 Vikings Packers
Peyton Manning 2013-2014 Broncos Colts
Tom Brady 2021 Bucs Patriots
Joe Flacco 2022 Jets Ravens
Russell Wilson 2022 Broncos Seahawks
Aaron Rodgers 2025 Steelers Packers
Rodgers would join Wilson as the only quarterbacks to beat a team in a Super Bowl and then later join them as a starting quarterback. Tom Brady and Peyton Manning are the only quarterbacks to win Super Bowls for two different franchises.
Aaron Rodgers won his only Super Bowl against the Steelers in Super Bowl XLV 😳
Will Aaron have one more chance to win it all with Mike Tomlin on his side? 👀 pic.twitter.com/fXXPL7BfSh
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 5, 2025
Will Rodgers evoke memories of 2009 and 2010?
In 2009 and 2010, the Brett Favre against the Green Bay Packers were four of the most watched NFL games in those two seasons.
However, four division games against bitter rivals will be much different when the Packers and Steelers face off. Favre also had a personal vendetta against the Packers since they moved on from him twice in the 2008 offseason, and Favre wanted to come back and be the Packers starting quarterback, before being traded to the Jets.
In Rodgers’ case, his move to the Jets came in April, and he expressed no ill will toward Brian Gutekunst to Jordan Love when the latter became the team’s starting quarterback.
What will be fun to watch is how likely it is that fans get to see the best of Rodgers. In week 14 last year, Rodgers had his first 300-yard passing game since 2021 in a Jets overtime loss to the Miami Dolphins.
Jordan Love 'can't wait' to face Aaron Rodgers: 'Hopefully we can exchange jerseys' https://t.co/SubP8vfIPQ
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) June 8, 2025
Rodgers has always played his best when he plays with a chip on his shoulder. His 2020 and 2021 MVP seasons are a perfect example of that. In facing off against his predecessor, Rodgers likely will play with a point to proof against national audience, that he’s still one of the best quarterbacks of all-time and a Packers legend.