Every Green Bay Packers fan hopes Aaron Rodgers saved his worst game of the season for Week 8, but he has made it impossible to ever truly root against him.
On Sunday Night Football, Rodgers' Pittsburgh Steelers host the Packers, the team he spent 18 years with and won four MVPs and a Super Bowl. While Rodgers went through an ugly breakup with the Packers, he delivered a heartfelt message about his time in Green Bay while speaking to reporters on Wednesday.
Rodgers insisted that he has "no animosity toward the organization."
"This is not a revenge game for me," said Rodgers. "Absence makes the heart grow fonder, maybe. I have a lot of great memories from my time there, a lot of great interactions with fans over the years. Living in Green Bay, living in Suamico, living in Hobart. Going to Chives, being out and about, seeing people at the Piggly Wiggly when I'm shopping for groceries. I grew up there. I spent 18 years there from 21 to 39, so I'm thankful for my time there."
Aaron Rodgers insists Packers-Steelers is not a revenge game for him
It's hard to believe Rodgers doesn't consider this a revenge game — his former teammate David Bakhtiari doesn't buy it. Bakhtiari believes Rodgers would love to "stick it back to the Packers" this week. And, honestly, that's probably true. He's a competitor and can prove a point to his former club.
But Rodgers' comments about Green Bay hit home. It's clear he wished to finish his career where it started, but that decision was taken out of his hands when the Packers drafted Jordan Love.
Rodgers may not have Brian Gutekunst on his Christmas card list, but it's easy to believe that he has no "animosity" toward the Packers. After all, Lambeau Field is home to so many magical moments in his Hall of Fame career.
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It's where he became an NFL legend. Packers fans loved him, and still do. There's no doubt he would've received an incredible reception had this game been played in Green Bay, just like Aaron Jones did, despite wearing ugly Vikings purple.
Rodgers still has former teammates in Green Bay, and under Matt LaFleur's leadership, he doubled his MVP tally.
Sunday is all business. Yes, Rodgers will be laser-focused and determined to take down his former team. It would help him achieve the rare feat of beating all 32 teams, and, of course, he loves to hold a grudge.
But there's no doubt that Rodgers loves the Green Bay Packers and always will. When he steps away from football, it's only a matter of time before he will be reunited with the fans and inducted into the Packers' Hall of Fame.
For now, though, that is put to one side. Packers fans may wish him well this season, but on Sunday, we hope to see the Jets version of Rodgers, and not the MVP superhero we know so well.