Aaron Rodgers Booed, Sacked on First Play but Responds with Early Touchdown in Steelers Debut
Facing his former team at MetLife Stadium, Rodgers was sacked by ex-teammate Quinnen Williams before throwing a 22-yard touchdown to Ben Skowronek
Aaron Rodgers was met with boos from New York Jets fans and sacked on his first play as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ starting quarterback Sunday at MetLife Stadium, but he answered by engineering an early scoring drive capped by a 22-yard touchdown pass to Ben Skowronek.
On the opening possession of the game, Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, who played alongside Rodgers in New York, brought Rodgers down for a sack on the first play from scrimmage. Pittsburgh converted on the drive, and on the ninth play Rodgers connected with Skowronek for a touchdown that gave the Steelers a 7-3 lead.
Justin Fields responded for the Jets on their next possession, completing his first four passes for 54 yards and throwing a touchdown to Garrett Wilson that put New York ahead 9-7. Both quarterbacks posted efficient numbers early: Rodgers was 5 of 7 for 93 yards through the opening exchanges while Steelers receiver DK Metcalf caught two of Rodgers’ early throws for 54 yards.
The opening sequence underscored the personal and professional storylines surrounding Rodgers’ debut for Pittsburgh. The three-time MVP built his Hall of Fame résumé in Green Bay, including a Super Bowl XLV victory over the Steelers in February 2011, before a contentious exit from the Packers led to subsequent stints in New York and now Pittsburgh. Rodgers missed the remainder of the 2023 season after rupturing his Achilles on the first drive as a Jet; he spent two seasons in New York that were widely characterized as disappointing before the move to Pittsburgh.
The game carried added significance for Rodgers, who reportedly viewed the matchup against the Jets as a marquee test. The Daily Mail quoted a source saying, “Aaron's current Super Bowl is the game against the Jets,” and that Rodgers “wants to blow them out” to protect his legacy in what the source described as what could be his final season.
Steelers head coach and team officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The matchup Sunday marked Week 1 of the 2025 regular season, and it featured two quarterbacks who have traded teams in recent years and arrived with heightened expectations. Rodgers’ early touchdown provided a quick response to the hostile crowd and a tangible sign of offensive rhythm for Pittsburgh, while Fields’ touchdown drive signaled that the Jets’ offense could match the Steelers early on.
Defensive plays and turnovers will shape how the rest of the contest develops; Williams’ sack on the first play served as an early momentum swing for the Jets’ defense. The teams traded scores in the opening possessions, leaving the game in a close, competitive state heading into the middle stages.
Rodgers’ debut for Pittsburgh will be evaluated both on the immediate scoreboard impact and on his health and durability over the season. After the Achilles injury in 2023 and two uneven seasons in New York, the former Green Bay starter and future Hall of Famer has framed the 2025 campaign as critical for his legacy and for the Steelers’ playoff hopes.
The remainder of the first quarter and the second half will offer a fuller picture of how the offenses perform over 60 minutes and whether early momentum shifts can be sustained by either club.