Final spring, Aaron Rodgers took months to determine whether or not and the place he would play in the course of the 2025 NFL season.
Then the season started Sunday. And enjoying for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Rodgers instantly seemed like the long run Corridor of Fame quarterback who’d as soon as poked holes in defenses all through the league, and little just like the one who’d struggled by way of final season.
Going through the New York Jets, the identical staff that unceremoniously advised Rodgers his companies had been now not wished final winter, the 41-year-old quarterback — the league’s oldest lively participant — threw 4 touchdowns to 4 totally different receivers by early within the fourth quarter of the season opener.
That alone was notable — he had only one recreation with 4 landing passes all final season. However Rodgers wasn’t accomplished.
With the Steelers trailing 32-31, Rodgers and Pittsburgh obtained the ball again with 3:13 remaining within the fourth quarter, 81 yards from the top zone. Seven performs later, aided by two lengthy completions from Rodgers and a go interference drawn on one other of his passes, the Steelers moved into place for a game-winning area purpose to win 34-32.
Rodgers accomplished 22 of his 30 passes for 244 yards, and whereas he was sacked 4 occasions, he did not throw an interception. He related with the staff’s different notable offensive offseason signing, DK Metcalf, 4 occasions for a team-high 83 yards.
The sport successfully featured a swap of quarterbacks neither staff wished after final season. Justin Fields, who began the primary month in Pittsburgh final 12 months earlier than shedding his job to Russell Wilson, additionally seemed revived whereas finishing 16 of his 22 passes for 218 yards and a landing and operating for 2 touchdowns, as nicely.
Rodgers has advised this could possibly be the ultimate NFL season of his profession, which features a Tremendous Bowl title and 4 MVP honors. His arm has frequently been one of many league’s strongest, but a decline in efficiency lately, mixed with a slew of off-field headlines derived from his private stances, had left just a few groups curious about signing Rodgers in the course of the offseason.
By means of additions that included including Metcalf and defensive again Jalen Ramsey within the offseason, Pittsburgh made strikes to place itself as a contender within the AFC. The largest variable was Rodgers. By means of one recreation, he was their greatest asset.
