Jordan Love Makes 6-Word Request to Aaron Rodgers Before Packers-Steelers Clash

It started with a text. “Quarterback,” Aaron Rodgers’ agent wrote, moments before the Packers made their 2020 first-round pick. Rodgers, sitting on his couch with a drink nearby, didn’t say much. He poured himself some tequila, sat back down, and processed what the Packers had just done. Green Bay, fresh off a 13-3 season and an NFC title game appearance, had used the 26th overall pick not on a receiver or a defensive anchor, but on his potential successor. Rodgers knew going forward there would “be some interesting conversations.” He went on to win MVPs in 2020 and 2021, but the team’s postseason exits and the front office’s long view gradually pulled the two sides apart. Three years later, Rodgers was gone, Jordan Love was in, and the Packers were finally living in the future they drafted.

Fast forward to now, the arrival of Aaron Rodgers in Pittsburgh has transformed every Steelers game from routine to must-watch. Now cloaked in Black and Gold, he will soon face a storyline rich in history and irony. On October 26th, the Steelers take on the Green Bay Packers — the franchise where Rodgers cemented his legacy with a Super Bowl ring. But this matchup is about more than nostalgia. It’s also a reunion of sorts: Rodgers will go head-to-head with Love, the young quarterback he mentored during his final seasons in Green Bay.

The former mentor-mentee matchup will be a second edition of history in the making. Remember when Aaron Rodgers faced off against Brett Favre more than a decade ago? Favre was leading the Vikings against his old team, and Rodgers was trying to battle against the guy he replaced for the Packers. A similar story is now unfolding in Minnesota as Jordan Love prepares himself to face off against his friend, who guided Love for three years. And he does with a little plea that A-Rod might just indulge.

At the AmFam Championship, Jason Wilde discussed the latest developments in Steel City and what they mean to Jordan Love going into the new season. Talking about his first reaction to Aaron Rodgers going to the Steelers, Love said, “I was excited for A-Rod. I don’t think I was too surprised. I feel like there was a lot of rumors going on throughout the whole offseason about him going to the Steelers. I was excited for him that he was obviously coming back and going to be playing. There’s also rumors that he might be done. Just knowing he’s going to keep playing, that’s pretty awesome.” When A-Rod took over from Favre, the transition met a lot of resistance, especially from Favre himself. But when Jordan Love took over the reins from A-Rod, the story changed. And Love appreciated how easy Rodgers made it for him.

EXCLUSIVE: @jasonjwilde caught up with #Packers QB Jordan Love at the @amfamchamp.

On playing against Aaron Rodgers and the #Steelers: “I can’t wait to be on different sides meeting up…hopefully we can exchange jerseys after.”@ESPNMilwaukee | @ESPNbd | @ESPNMadison pic.twitter.com/eLzdGTPEbA

— Wilde & Tausch (@WildeAndTausch) June 7, 2025

As Jordan Love put it, “I appreciate definitely the way A-Rod just handled being in that situation. – he knows kind of how it was for him being in the same position and things that he went through and just the way the situation might have been handled. I think his perspective was, ‘I’m trying to go about this a little bit differently,’ which I think was awesome.” Love also doubled down on the bond he had with Rodgers and commended on how A-Rod handled Love’s transition to the starter position. “I think he’s been great, very supportive of me, and definitely helped with some of the negativity and things like that that might come with that. I think A-Rod handled like a pro and did me very, very right.” And now, Love is excited to face-off against his mentor, and he’s hoping he’ll get a memento in the process.

The Packers vs. the Steelers won’t just be about a clash between mentor and mentee. It will also be about two friends going up against each other and giving it their best. As Jordan Love shared his excitement, “It’s going to be fun. It’s going to be awesome. I’m excited for it. I can’t wait to be on different sides, meeting up. I know we’ll take pre-game and things like that.” And what about the request? “Hopefully we can exchange jerseys after.” Knowing the bond the two share, it won’t be surprising if A-Rod agrees to the jersey swap. Love will get a token from his mentor now in black and gold. And A-Rod? He will receive a reminder, besides his Super Bowl ring, of the time he spent with the Packers, as well as guiding a young rookie to greatness.

While Jordan Love looks forward to October 26th now, there’s yet another matchup that’s being anticipated greatly. And it’s one that will come much before the Packers-Steelers showdown. It’s the story of QBs vs. their old teams. Which match? The September 7th Steelers vs. Jets.

The Steelers vs. Jets showdown

Aaron Rodgers flew to the Jets’ facility only to be turned down by HC Aaron Glenn. For the Jets, signing their QB1, Justin Fields, meant everything. Glenn had even praised Fields recently, saying, “He’s a really good athlete. He works his bu– off in the weight room. –  doing everything he can to improve. And whatever advantage he can get from coaching, strength and conditioning, being on the field, he’s going to take that advantage and he’s going to run with it. So I’m very happy where he’s at.” And now, it’s not just Justin Fields facing his old team in week 1. There’s the added spice of A-Rod going up against the Jets. This is not a simple matchup, folks. It’s a straight-up grudge match.

In the last month of the 2024 season, Mike Tomlin decided to bench Justin Fields and have Russell Wilson start under center. According to recent reports, “Tomlin was kind of all on his own on that one.” There were even reports that Steelers OC Arthur Smith wanted Justin Fields to remain in his offense. As insider James Palmer had noted, “He thought he could get him some playoff wins. That’s what Arthur Smith thought of Justin Fields.” Mike Tomlin thought differently, but according to other reports, the Steelers did try to bring back Fields. They even had a deal on the table, “two years, $40 million with $30 million guaranteed.” But Fields was all set to shine with the Jets. And that brings us to the grudge match of the season.

Justin Fields vs. the Steelers. Aaron Rodgers vs. the Jets. The league has made a masterstroke move, setting this up right at the start of the season. And with the Packers vs. Steelers prime time game now thrown in, this season already looks like a legendary NFL saga in the making. Mentor vs. mentee, or QB vs old team… Which matchup are you rooting for?

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