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Aaron Rodgers isn’t holding back criticism of his former team as he prepares for what could be his final NFL appearance. The Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback took aim at the New York Jets while speaking to reporters ahead of Monday’s playoff game.
“There aren’t any leaks in the boat… the antithesis of where I was,” Rodgers told media this week. “To go through a season like this and being able to focus on football has been really nice.”
The 40-year-old signal-caller was clearly contrasting the Steelers’ organizational culture with his tumultuous time in New York, where he spent the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
His comments sparked immediate backlash from Jets supporters.
Many fans pointed out the irony in Rodgers’ statement, considering his weekly appearances on The Pat McAfee Show during his Jets tenure – a platform he frequently used to discuss internal team matters. He’s notably stopped these regular appearances since joining Pittsburgh.
“YOU CAUSED 95% OF THE OFF-FIELD DRAMA YOU INOCULATED EGOMANIAC!” one Jets fan responded on social media.
“Never in my LIFE have I seen a grown man cry about about a team he was a huge problem of for the way they played,” another fan summarized.
Some reactions were considerably more colorful, with one seemingly British Jets supporter calling Rodgers a “loser” while accusing him of “subtweeting his old team” despite being 42 years old. The fan also referenced Rodgers’ much-discussed personal life.
Rodgers has enjoyed a statistically solid first season in Pittsburgh – completing 65.7% of his passes for 3,322 yards, 24 touchdowns and just 7 interceptions. Despite these numbers, the Steelers enter their Wild Card matchup against the Houston Texans as 3-point underdogs.
The four-time NFL MVP joined Pittsburgh after his brief Jets career was marred by controversy and underperformance. What started with championship aspirations in New York quickly deteriorated into locker room tensions and public disputes.
Playoff Focus
Whether Monday’s game represents Rodgers’ NFL finale remains unclear. At his age, retirement speculation naturally follows each season – though he’s shown he can still perform at a high level when healthy.
The Steelers-Texans Wild Card game kicks off Monday night at NRG Stadium in Houston, with Pittsburgh making its first playoff appearance with Rodgers under center.
