Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets will forever be linked after their tumultuous two-year marriage from 2023 to 2024.
Rodgers divorced from New York, as per the wishes of new head coach Aaron Glenn, in 2025. He joined the Pittsburgh Steelers and promptly brought them to the playoffs, although a swift exit followed.
On Friday, Rodgers’ final NFL franchise will play host to his old team in each organization’s second preseason game of 2026. Will Rodgers get another chance to face the green-and-white?
No.
According to ESPN’s Brooke Pryor, the Steelers are sitting Rodgers and his backup, Mason Rudolph, against the Jets. Will Howard will get the start while Drew Allar will back him up, according to head coach Mike McCarthy.
Rodgers already got a chance to stick it to the Jets in the regular season. In the 2025 season opener, Rodgers hurled four touchdown passes as part of a 32-31 Steelers victory at MetLife Stadium, the same building where he tore his Achilles in 2023 and proceeded to go 3-6 as a starter in 2024.
Howard, 25, was drafted by Pittsburgh out of Ohio State in the sixth round of the 2025 draft. He is looking to build on a solid preseason opener that saw him complete 7 of 9 passes for 86 yards.
Allar, 22, was a third-round pick out of Penn State in this year’s draft. He enjoyed a similarly impressive preseason opener, completing 10 of 13 passes for 153 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions.
