Green Bay Packers fans have had Week 8 of the 2025 NFL campaign circled on their calendars since the schedule release in May. However, the team's head coach, Matt LaFleur, doesn't sound nearly as eager about a date with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Of course, much of that anticipation surrounding Green Bay's upcoming showdown with the Steelers centers around quarterback Aaron Rodgers' inaugural matchup with the Packers. The four-time MVP faces the franchise he spent the first 18 years of his legendary career with and led to a Super Bowl.
Oh, and this is a Sunday Night Football meeting, further spotlighting the evocative storyline that LaFleur is ostensibly trying to nip in the bud.
Matt LaFleur wastes no time attempting to downplay Packers' showdown with Aaron Rodgers-led Steelers
During his press conference on Monday, LaFleur was asked about the challenges of staying on task while going up against a Rodgers-led Steelers group. The question prompted a run-of-the-mill coachspeak response from Green Bay's sideline general:
"We're playing the Pittsburgh Steelers, who happen to have Aaron Rodgers," LaFleur told reporters. "That is for [the media] to talk about."
LaFleur may be focused on the Steelers, though everyone on the outside is naturally gravitating towards the game within the game. He and Rodgers were one among the winningest tandems in football during their four seasons together from 2019 to 2022 and are set to clash. You can't talk about one's accomplishments without mentioning the other, which the former touched on.
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"We had a lot of great moments [with Rodgers] in our past, but this game is not about that," LaFleur said. "It's about going to Pittsburgh, Sunday Night Football, our guys will be jacked up, their guys will be jacked up. It's about the Green Bay Packers versus the Pittsburgh Steelers."
A follow-up query regarding whether LaFleur will discuss the Rodgers storyline with his locker room arose. Unsurprisingly, he kept the same energy, indicating that it won't be even brought up.
"I don't know if many of these guys played with [Rodgers]," LaFleur voiced. "There's a few guys, but ... that's for you guys."
Nevertheless, let's be honest, Rodgers will be motivated to beat the Packers. The future Hall of Famer was admittedly fired up to exact revenge on the New York Jets after the Steelers' Week 1 win.
So, LaFleur can run from the narrative, but he can't hide.