Aaron Rodgers: It’s not a revenge game for me

Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers didn’t get the ending he wanted in Green Bay, but he said Wednesday that the way things ended with the Packers isn’t a cause for bad feelings ahead of Sunday night’s game against the Packers.

Rodgers said he “would have loved to ride off into the sunset” after winning a second Super Bowl with the Packers, but he knew that probably wouldn’t happen once the Packers drafted Jordan Love in the first round in 2020. He said he had fond memories of his 18 years with the team and said “absence makes the heart grow fonder” when it was pointed out that he was less optimistic about starting in the past.

“I don’t have any animosity towards organization,” Rodgers said, via Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com. “Obviously, I wish things had gone better in our last year there, but I have great relationships with a lot of people still in that organization. It’s not a revenge game for me. I’m just excited to see some of these guys and participate Sunday Night Football Again.”

This is the second time Rodgers has faced a former team this season. The Steelers opened the season by beating the Jets and said he was “happy to beat everyone associated with the Jets” after downplaying any special significance to the contest before the game.

Rodgers’ comments Wednesday make a repeat unlikely, although the Steelers will have to win the game for the situations to be fully parallel.