Aaron Rodgers Waves White Flag At Packers After Slamming Former NFL Team

Revenge is absolutely the last thing on Aaron Rodgers' mind for the Packers, or is it?

The NFL superstar insists that leaving his former team was really the start of a clean slate for him, and he holds zero animosity towards them as he prepares to face them two years after his exit.

Aaron Rodgers surprisingly took a different stance during his most recent face-off with his former team, the New York Jets, leading the Pittsburgh Steelers to a satisfying victory.

The 41-year-old got candid with reporters as he prepared to play his first game as the quarterback for his new team, the Pittsburgh Steelers, against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.

Clearly detailing his plans and thoughts, Rodgers noted that the game is not a revenge match for him and that he bears no grudge against the Packers.

Rodgers had a very productive 18 seasons with the Green Bay Packers, taking over as quarterback from Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre in 2008 and clinching a Super Bowl win in 2011.

The NFL star admitted he still has great respect for some of his teammates and is beyond excited to see them on Sunday night. According to PEOPLE, the NFL star's rough patch with the Packers began in 2020 after they drafted Jordan Love, who is now the team's quarterback.

After a complicated relationship with head coach Matt LaFleur and unhealthy media attention, Rodgers was eventually traded to the New York Jets in 2023.

Well, Rodgers' words earlier in the season came back to bite him in the behind as critics slammed him for attempting to downplay the situation. The footballer had earlier announced his eagerness to defeat the Packers right after he dealt with the Jets in the first week of the season.

Rodgers had described the feeling of defeating the Jets, whom he played with for two injury-filled seasons, as nothing compared to the joy of playing against the Green Bay Packers and coasting to victory, especially after such a long history with them.

The 41-year-old had also told reporters on Wednesday that if he had faced the team on the home front at Lambeau, the feeling may have been very different. However, despite these very soothing words to de-escalate the situation, ESPN analyst and former NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky saw things differently.

The "First Take" host warned viewers to take Rodgers' comments with a pinch of salt as he remains one of the most petty and spiteful people in NFL history. The sports analyst insisted that there is no way Rodgers would not want to win that game against his former team. 

The start of the 2025 NFL season saw Aaron Rodgers enjoy an outstanding opening game, with the Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Jets ending their matchup 34-32.

The Blast reported that after the exciting victory, Rodgers told the team of interviewers he was beyond excited to dominate everyone associated with the Jets. He added that he had overheard whispers from the staff at the Jets about his stamina and ability to deliver at a high level in the league.

He bragged that it felt nice to finally prove those who had cast shadows of doubt over his ability to play to shame. Rodgers said that the victory of his team was good, particularly because of the catcalls he heard, as well as the boo-birds.

While the prolific player dispelled claims that he was very sensitive, he admitted that receiving some negativity gave him the energy to score a huge win.

The NFL champ got into a fresh round of controversy at their recent game against the Bengals, where they lost 33-31. His teammate and Steelers lineman, Broderick Jones, had scored a late touchdown and celebrated by wrapping his arms around Rodgers' neck while dragging him to the turf.

The celebration was reportedly meant to mimic an opposing defender's style, but it landed on Rodgers' wrong nerves, as he seemingly rolled over and shoved Jones. The duo was even spotted in a heated argument over the nature of the tackle and their apparent loss.

Of course, Rodgers' conduct towards his teammate went viral, earning him several knocks from spectators who called for his retirement since he found it hard to take a simple joke. The footballer pulled his weight in the game by completing 23 of 34 passes for 335 yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions.

Unfortunately, his efforts failed to yield the needed fruits as the Bengals clinched the win with a last-second field goal.

Away from the hustle and bustle of the field, Rodgers has covered significant ground in his personal life as he announced that he had secretly gotten married a couple of months ago. The Blast stated that he revealed this during an interview in June that his mysterious wife was named Brittani, and nothing more.

He hardly talked about her during games, and no one knows anything about the mystery wife. However, the football star has been seen wearing a black ring on his finger during training.

Rodgers has also gushed about what they shared, describing her unconditional love as the greatest and most incredible feeling in the world.

"I just really love her, and I'm so thankful to have her by my side at the end. When you have that stability and that rock behind you at the house, you feel like you can do anything," the footballer added.

Will Aaron Rodgers stick to his words and leave the spirit of competition out of the Sunday Night Game?