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The New York Jets are doing their best to silence the noise ahead of Sunday’s season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers — a matchup that features one of the NFL’s juiciest storylines. The game at MetLife Stadium will pit quarterback Justin Fields against his former team and see the Jets face off against Aaron Rodgers, the future Hall of Famer they released in February after just two tumultuous years in New York.
First-year Jets head coach Aaron Glenn showed little interest Tuesday in rehashing the decision to part ways with Rodgers, who publicly criticized the move earlier this offseason.
“It’s not relevant to right now,” Glenn said. “I’m not going to answer questions about guys that aren’t here. Right now, I’m looking at what our guys can do.”
Fields vs. Rodgers: A Rare Week 1 Twist
According to ESPN Research, this marks the first season-opening game in NFL history between starting quarterbacks who both changed teams they started for the previous year.
Fields acknowledged the intrigue but insisted he won’t get caught up in the hype.
“The storyline is crazy. I mean, that’s why the NFL set us up for Week 1,” Fields said. “But there’s no storyline for me. It’s ball for me. In the locker room, we just keep it straight ball.”
The Jets signed Fields to a two-year, $40 million contract after Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey took over the franchise and moved on from Rodgers. Fields started six games for the Steelers last season while Russell Wilson was injured, going 4-2 before being benched. Despite the abrupt ending, Fields said he holds no grudges.
“I’m a big believer everything happens for a reason,” he said. “I learned a lot from Russ and the vets there.”
Rodgers Back at MetLife
Rodgers, meanwhile, begins his tenure with the Steelers after his rocky two-year run in New York. The four-time MVP tore his Achilles four snaps into the 2023 opener, and the Jets stumbled to a 5-12 record in 2024, costing former coach Robert Saleh and GM Joe Douglas their jobs.
Despite the disappointing end, Rodgers left an impression on his ex-teammates. Cornerback Sauce Gardner, who developed a viral handshake routine with him, called it “a great experience” learning from one of the game’s best.
“He’s a future Hall of Famer, we all know that,” Glenn said. “He’s going to cause problems no matter what. He makes it a challenge.”
Defensive end Jermaine Johnson, who’s returning from a torn Achilles, was blunt about his approach.
“I don’t care who’s back there,” Johnson said. “I’ve got a job to do for this team. Whoever the quarterback is, I get paid to put him down.”
No Extra Fuel, At Least Publicly
Publicly, the Jets have tried to strip the matchup of added meaning. But even Gardner admitted Rodgers may find some motivation against his former team.
“We are human,” Gardner said. “We use a lot of things as motivation. I’m sure I could say the same for him.”
All the storylines and emotions will be on display Sunday, but as Fields put it best: “Cool, calm, collected. It’s just ball.”
More must-reads:
Packers’ Micah Parsons Dealing With Back Sprain, May Need Injection to Play in Week 1
Chiefs’ Trent McDuffie to Open 2025 Season Without Extension
