Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers isn't sure if enough time has passed for the Green Bay Packers to welcome him back with open arms once his playing career is finished. He's also not sure if he would accept their invitation.
"I think there's some people that have a lot of affection for me, and I would assume we're talking four or five years from now that there will be fans who still have appreciation for what I've done, especially after so much time has passed," Rodgers said on ESPN radio, per Rob Demovsky. "I think there's certain people in the building who wouldn't be totally on board, and maybe I wouldn't be on board if they were still there as well."
Rodgers spent 18 years with the Packers, winning four league MVPs and a Super Bowl as the face of their franchise. He was traded to the New York Jets prior to the 2023 season, and there appears to be some lingering animosity about the end of the relationship.
"There's definitely some things I could've done to make those guys a little more comfortable I guess, but the GM wanted me out of there, so it was only a matter of time," Rodgers said. "They were just looking for one non-MVP season and that was going to be that. Didn't understand it. Didn't necessarily agree with it. I just didn't like the way it was handled, and obviously, I could have probably handled it better. But on the flip side, it probably made it a little easier on (quarterback) Jordan (Love)."
The general manager who made the trade, Brian Gutekunst, remains in the same role for the Packers. Matt LaFleur has been Green Bay's head coach since 2019.
Rodgers was injured in his first game with the Jets and missed the entirety of the 2023 campaign. He returned to the club in 2024 and then signed with the Steelers in 2025. The 42-year-old re-upped with Pittsburgh this past offseason for what he says is his final NFL campaign.
The Steelers don't play the Packers this season, meaning Rodgers will end his career without an opportunity to return to Lambeau Field as a visiting player. Rodgers said he looks back fondly on his time in Green Bay.
"I loved my time there," Rodgers said. "And I didn't let the ending skew any of the good times that we had and how much I enjoyed playing there and playing at Lambeau and being around so many great people over the years."
The Packers had a similarly rocky break-up with Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre. The organization ultimately mended fences with him and retired his number four years after he retired from the league.
