Aaron Rodgers ‘happy to beat everyone’ after New York boos following instant NFL history alongside Justin Fields
Aaron Rodgers kicked off his 2025 season on familiar ground – and looked a lot like those in New York were hoping.
The NFL veteran returned to MetLife Stadium to lead the Pittsburgh Steelers to victory over the New York Jets in Week 1.
All eyes were on the four-time MVP after two years with Gang Green that were a long way from what the Jets fans had been hoping form.
After 2023 was wiped out by injury, and 2024 dogged by sub-par play, coaching changes and general malaise, those in attendance at MetLife ensured Rodgers was ‘welcomed’.
Rodgers was booed as he took to the field for the Steelers opening drive – but he had the perfect response, leading his new team on a 10-play 71-yard drive that ended with a Ben Skowronek touchdown.
And he had the last laugh too, finishing with 244 yards and 4 touchdowns to go with a passer rating of 136.7 – despite being sacked four times in a thrilling 34-32 win for the new-look Steelers.
When asked about the significant of beating the Jets in his post match media avaliablity, Rodgers said: “I was happy to beat everyone associated with the Jets.”
He went on to discuss pre-match interactions with some of the squad, but there was no mistaking the delight in Rodgers voice.
Steelers fans packed out MetLife themselves, and didn’t have to look far for a familiar face themselves, with Justin Fields on the opposite sideline.
Fields, who spent the 2024 season in Pittsburgh, is now the starting quarterback for the Jets, 12 months on from starting in Week 1 for the Steelers.
Field was just as impressive on debut, rushing for 48 yards and two TDs to go with 218 yards and one touchdown pass as new Jets head coach stamped an identity all over the team.
The fact that the two QBs were going head to head on opposite sides of the field to where they begun 2024 meant when the pair took to the field, they made instant NFL history.
It is the first season-opener where the starting quarterbacks have swapped places from the previous season.
With New York last year, Rodgers started all 17 games and led the team to a 5-12 record before a messy divorce that saw him move on.
Fields, meanwhile, started six games for the Steelers in 2024.
He won four of those, before being demoted to Russell Wilson’s backup.
With their new teams, Fields and Rodgers take center stage, and the latter made headlines even before taking a snap at MetLife on Sunday.
Rodgers warms up with Jets staff
Super Bowl XLV champion Rodgers, who was mocked for looking ‘terrible’ in pre-season, was all smiles as he reunited with some of his former teammates ahead of kickoff.
ESPN reporter Brooke Pryor noted that a ‘receiving line of Jets stepped up to greet’ him, including Tyrod Taylor and Breece Hall.
Rodgers even took a moment to throw with a member of the New York staff, according to the NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.
“Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers throwing with Karan Patel, whom he used to throw to while with the Jets,” Garafolo wrote on X.
“Patel was with the team’s equipment staff and now visiting locker room attendant.
“Rodgers then spent a few minutes asking Patel for updates on his life and family since they last saw one another.”
Within less than an hour, the clip of Rodgers and Patel went viral, with many fans praising the NFL vet for his wholesome actions.
“Something about Rodgers pausing his warm up to be genuinely interested in an equipment guy’s new job is cool,” one fan wrote.
“Cool moment seeing Rodgers reunite with Patel!” another said.
“Great dude,” a third responded.
“I was told what a bad guy Aaron is,” a fourth wrote.
While he was all smiles before kickoff, Rodgers will be locked in once he takes the field in the iconic black and gold for the first time.
MetLife Stadium is the site of his lowest NFL moment — a season-ending Achilles injury four snaps into his Jets career back in 2023 — and he will be looking to light up the team following their unceremonious split in February of this year.
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