Pittsburgh, PA – in a resounding debut with his new team, Pittsburgh steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers threw four touchdown passes Sunday, leading his team to victory over the New York Jets. The performance marked Rodgers’ first game against the team he previously played for,adn came after a notably frosty reception from Jets fans.
Rodgers’ first drive as a Steeler culminated in a 22-yard touchdown pass to Ben Skowronek, giving Pittsburgh a 7-3 lead with 3:38 remaining in the first quarter. This followed being greeted by boos from the Jets crowd and being sacked on the first play by Quinnen Williams.
he later connected with Jonnu Smith for a 3-yard touchdown with 32 seconds left in the second quarter, bringing the score to 19-10.In the fourth quarter, Rodgers threw touchdowns to Jaylen Warren (5 yards) and Calvin Austin III (18 yards) within a 50-second span, ultimately securing the win.
Rodgers finished the game completing 22 of 30 passes for 244 yards and four touchdowns. He now has 507 career regular-season touchdown passes, trailing only Brett Favre (508), Peyton Manning (539), and Tom Brady (649) all-time.
The game carried significant weight given Rodgers’ tumultuous tenure with the Jets.Traded to New York in 2023, he suffered a torn Achilles tendon just four snaps into his debut, derailing the Jets’ Super Bowl aspirations. He returned last season,throwing for 28 touchdowns and 3,897 yards – both ranking third in franchise history – but struggled with mobility and further leg injuries. The Jets finished 5-12, leading to the dismissal of both General Manager Joe Douglas and Coach Robert Saleh.
Rodgers threw a season-high four touchdowns in his final game as a Jet, a win over Miami on January 5, becoming the fifth player in NFL history to reach 500 career regular-season touchdown passes.
Despite the emotional context of facing his former team, Rodgers remained focused on the game. “I love beating everybody,” Rodgers said after the victory. “It doesn’t matter who it is.”
Prior to kickoff, rodgers shared greetings and hugs with former Jets teammates, including Quinnen Williams, Breece Hall, Tyrod Taylor, and Jermaine Johnson during warmups.
