STEELERS WEEK ONE: RODGERS' REVENGE

- Tyler Yasembousky, Contributor

Thank goodness! The 2025 NFL season has begun. It honestly feels like the best time of the year. As we all know there’s been A LOT of offseason activity from the Pittsburgh Steelers, most notably the addition of a new marquee quarterback leading the team. That’s right. The future first ballot NFL Hall of Famer, Aaron Rodgers has come to Pittsburgh.

The 4 time MVP and one time Super Bowl winner joined after being exiled from New York. Well technically New Jersey. Let’s be honest with ourselves. There’s only one team who actually plays in the state of New York and that’s Buffalo.Rodgers wanted to make a return to New York, yet another Aaron got in his way. Aaron Glenn, the new head coach of the New Jersey, I mean New York, Jets. He told Rodgers this past off season that the team was moving on without him. So Rodgers became a free agent. 

Meanwhile, Pittsburgh went through their own divorces. First, they let go of Russell Wilson, who was their starting QB for most of the season last year. He ironically would end up in New York with the Giants. (Some may say, not an ideal situation)

Pittsburgh then had interest in keeping Justin Fields but allowed him to test free agency, hoping they could work out a deal with him for a number they felt comfortable with.Yet to their surprise and disappointment, he got a big contract offer from the Jets. So, this left the Steelers with a need for a new starting QB. 

Enter Aaron Rodgers, who waited quite a long time to make an official decision about it. I do feel that privately he and the Steelers had an agreement and understanding that he would eventually sign with them. They just went along with his schedule, which Rodgers admitted he appreciated. 

The Steelers made more off season moves by trading Minkah Fitzpatrick for Jalen Ramsey and Jonnu Smith. It felt like Pittsburgh wasn’t just happy with another winning season. They were pushing their chips into the center of the table and trying to go all in this year. 

Ironically enough, the season would start off with a high drama game….a match up with the New York Jets. Aaron Rodgers former team that sent him packing and their new starting Quarterback, Justin Fields. 

Many people, including myself, expected this to be a low scoring defensive affair. It was anything but that.

This was a heck of a game that kept going score for score. The momentum would swing back and forth between the two teams constantly. The Jets seemed to be one step ahead of Pittsburgh throughout the entire game, but they had three mistakes that would cost them. Those being one big turnover and two missed extra point attempts.

So this ended up being the final situation we found ourselves in……32-31 jets lead with a minute to go and Pittsburgh with the ball. 

Aaron Rodgers had to remind everyone that he is that BAD BAD MAN. Rodgers had an INCREDIBLE game going 22/30, 244 yards and four touchdowns. But the hero the team needed was none other than the most reliable man on the Steelers, Chris Boswell. Or as Mike Tomlin called him after a game, the serial killer!

I’ve said it all last season and have been saying it for awhile now. Chris is the best kicker in the league. He had a chance to prove it by hitting a 60 yard FG setting up the Steelers to get a 34/32 lead. 

Former Pittsburgh Steelers’ quarterback Justin Fields would have one more chance to get the Jets in field goal range and win the game. But, the Steelers defense who had a bad game, finally stood their ground and was able to come up with a 4th down stop. 

The Pittsburgh Steelers were able to win the first game of the year in a shoot out. 

Rodgers was asked by reporters about how he felt after getting revenge on both the Jets and new head coach Aaron Glenn, whom he previously took shots at earlier in the offseason, and he predictably didn't hold back.

“I was happy to beat everybody associated with the Jets” 

That’s a COLD line from A Rod. 

Which is ironic because they say revenge is a dish best served cold. 

The Steelers have their first home game next week where they welcome the 0-1 Seattle Seahawks.