As of right now, former Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers remains unsigned.
The future Hall of Famer was released by the New York Jets earlier this offseason but has yet to find a new team for 2025.
However, Rodgers did meet with the Pittsburgh Steelers brass this week including head coach Mike Tomlin and owner Art Rooney II.
The Steelers may be Rodgers’ last best chance to sign with a team this year after the Giants and Vikings turned him down.
If Rodgers signs with Pittsburgh, then the Packers will face Rodgers this season when they meet the Steelers (assuming the quarterback stays healthy).
The game is designated as a Steelers home game, but there is the very real possibility the Packers could meet the Steelers in the very first NFL regular season game in Dublin, Ireland, which is scheduled for later this year.
We still do not know who the teams will be in that game although rumors have been circulating it will be Green Bay and Pittsburgh.
It’s unfortunate that the game won’t be played at Lambeau Field. It would be interesting to see how the fans in Green Bay would react to seeing Rodgers return wearing another team’s uniform.
But that is not a possibility this season even if Rodgers does sign with the Steelers.
This would not be the first revenge game for a former Packers quarterback. In 2009, the Packers faced Brett Favre twice when he signed with the Vikings.
The fans were upset about the way Favre left Green Bay and how he orchestrated signing with the division rival Vikings after the Packers purposely traded him to an AFC team in the Jets.
The first meeting came in Minnesota on Monday Night Football. Favre completed 24-of-31 passes for 271 yards and three touchdowns as the Vikings beat the Pack 30-23.
Four weeks later, Favre had his big return to Lambeau Field. The fans were mostly hostile to their former hero in his return.
Some banners at the game said things like, “True legends don’t wear purple” and “Drama Queen.” A plane even circled Lambeau field before the game carrying a banner that read, “Retire 4 Good.”
Favre threw for 244 yards and four touchdown passes to beat the Packers 38-26. Ironically, although Favre threw more interceptions than any quarterback in NFL history, he threw none in either of these two games.
Favre wasn’t the only Packers quarterback to return for a revenge game.
Don Majkowski returned to Green Bay in 1996 and started for the Detroit Lions. Despite a 152-yard rushing day from Barry Sanders, the Packers contained “The Majik Man” and won the game 28-18.
Majkowski completed just 15-of-32 passes for 153 yards against his former team. He did throw a touchdown, but it came late in the game with the Packers already ahead by 18 points. Green Bay sacked Majkowski five times with Santana Dotson recorded two of them.
The Packers spoiled another potential revenge game back in 1971.
Former Packers first round draft pick Don Horn started against the Packers in Week 2 at Milwaukee County Stadium.
The Packers had just traded Horn, once regarded as the heir apparent to Bart Starr, to the Broncos in the deal that helped netted the Packers defensive lineman Alden Roche. It also included a swap of first round picks.
The Packers used the new pick to select John Brockington, who became the first player in NFL history to gain 1,000 or more yards in each of his first three NFL seasons.
Horn failed to get revenge against the Packers.
He completed 16-of-33 passes for 186 yards but threw six interceptions in the game before being replaced by backup Steve Ramsey.
Ken Ellis made three of the six picks while Doug Hart, Al Matthews, and Dave Robinson had one interception apiece.
Meanwhile, Brockington ran for a 52-yard touchdown in the Packers 34-13 victory which was Dan Devine’s first win as head coach for Green Bay.
So, will we see an Aaron Rodgers revenge game this coming season? If so, will it take place in Pittsburgh or Dublin? One thing is certain, if it does happen, it will be quite a memorable event.