Aaron Rodgers has entered 2025 with a bold mission: become the fifth quarterback in NFL history to defeat all 32 franchises.
After signing a one-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Rodgers now has an opportunity to conquer the one team missing from his résumé – his old squad, the Green Bay Packers.
Week 8 represents a potential landmark: with a Steelers victory, Rodgers would finally add Green Bay to the list of teams he’s defeated, joining Hall of Famers Brett Favre, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees and Tom Brady.
A reunion with roots: Week 8 vs. the Packers
All eyes will be on Acrisure Stadium on Sunday Night Football, October 26. Earlier this year, Rodgers defeated every team except Green Bay. A victory that night would place him among an elite few in NFL annals.
Beyond the personal milestone, this matchup carries emotional weight. Rodgers spent 18 seasons in Green Bay, earning a Super Bowl title and multiple MVPs.
His successor, Jordan Love, has acknowledged the significance. Love commented, “It’s going to be fun… I can’t wait to be on different sides meeting up… hopefully we can exchange jerseys after,” adding a personal dimension to the contest.
Facing his former team on primetime isn’t just theater – it’s an opportunity to close a major chapter in his career. A win would not only complete the sweep but also reaffirm that Rodgers remains a top-tier quarterback.
New team, same drive for Rodgers
Joining the Steelers revitalized Rodgers’ role in a franchise hungry for offensive firepower. Since Ben Roethlisberger’s retirement, Pittsburgh has lacked a stable signal-caller. Rodgers’ one-year contract, worth up to $19 million, was seen as a bold playoff gambit.
His 2024 season with the Jets – 28 touchdown passes and 11 interceptions – offered a single season of peaks, though not of the brilliance shown during his Green Bay tenure.
If Rodgers beats Green Bay in Week 8, he’ll join Manning, Favre, Brady, and Brees in an exclusive club of quarterbacks who’ve defeated every team, an achievement none of the others accomplished across different franchises.
That win would mean more than historical prestige – it could spark Pittsburgh’s playoff push. A primetime victory over a rival and Rodgers’ former team would energize both the fan base and the locker room, signaling the Steelers are serious contenders once again.
As the Steelers face both the Jets in Week 1 and the Packers in Week 8, Rodgers will have two chances to affirm his value. The rematch against his former team carries the weight of completing a personal mission-and could secure his place in football lore.
For Steelers supporters and NFL historians alike, Week 8 isn’t just a game – it’s a defining moment. Rodgers could rewrite the record books and cement his legacy on his own terms.
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