Aaron Rodgers heard — and expected, he said — all of the boos from Jets fans when he took the field at MetLife Stadium on Sunday.
After throwing four touchdowns and proving his ability to still lead a team as a quarterback at the age of 41, Rodgers was eager to know the reactions of Jets fans.
Exiting the field after the Steelers’ 34-32 victory, Rodgers cupped his hand to his right ear to catch the mix of boos and cheers — with Steelers supporters and their yellow towels being a notable part of the latter — echoing towards him as he made his way to the tunnel.
When he approached the end zone, Rodgers, with Cam Heyward and head coach Mike Tomlin at his side, pumped his first to acknowledge Pittsburgh fans.
Sunday had been pegged as a revenge game for Rodgers ever since his messy divorce with the Jets and his decision to sign with the Steelers.
When Aaron Glenn assumed the role of head coach for the Jets, Rodgers traveled across the U.S. to Florham Park for a meeting where he was informed that the team was looking to make a change at the quarterback position.
Rodgers criticized Glenn and how his situation was managed during an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show,” and although Rodgers played down the hype surrounding his return before Week 1, afterward he openly expressed, “I was thrilled to beat everyone affiliated with the Jets.”
“Some people within the organization probably doubted my ability to play anymore,” Rodgers remarked, “so it felt good to remind them that I indeed can.”
He successfully completed 22 of 30 passes for 244 yards and four touchdowns, and with the Steelers behind in the final quarter, he executed a classic six-play, 39-yard push, putting them in position for Chris Boswell to kick a 60-yard field goal.
Rodgers’ first season with the Jets was derailed by a torn Achilles sustained on the first offensive drive of the year, and his second campaign with Gang Green was defined by constant struggles and underwhelming performances that resembled a shadow of the signal-caller who won four MVP awards with the Packers.
As a Jet, Rodgers compiled four touchdown passes in game just once — in the season finale against the Dolphins.
It took just one game to already match that with the Steelers.
