Aaron Rodgers makes blunt admission after passing Brett Favre in Week 3 Steelers-Patriots 4 Sep 21, 2025; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) runs the ball during the fourth quarter at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images

‘Hatred goes both ways’: Aaron Rodgers brings up Packers experience as he prepares for Steelers-Browns rivalry

Originally posted on WI Sports Heroics | By Robin M Adams | Last updated Oct 9, 2025 8:33 AM ET

Aaron Rodgers has settled in with his new role as the starting quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The former Green Bay Packers franchise face has helped the Steelers win three of their first four games in the 2025 NFL regular season, including Week 4’s meeting across the pond against a foe that he’s so familiar with. Rodgers passed for 200 yards and a touchdown with an interception on 18-of-22 pass completions in a 24-21 win over the Minnesota Vikings in Dublin.

Coming off a bye in Week 5, Rodgers and the Steelers look forward to a showdown against the Cleveland Browns at home this coming Sunday. It will be the 41-year-old Rodgers’ first taste of an AFC North rivalry.

Aaron Rodgers remembers Packers rivalries in AFC North ahead of Steelers-Browns

Of course, Rodgers isn’t a stranger when it comes to rivalry games. He’s got an extensive experience of that in the NFC North, where he spent the majority of his NFL career with the Packers.

“I was asking PQ [Patrick Queen] about it the other day, because he’s been on both sides with Baltimore and now with us,” Rodgers said of the Steelers’ rivalries in the AFC North, per Jim Wexell of the Steelers’ official website.

“In my own time, in the NFC North, I think there was always a great rivalry with Chicago. (With) Minnesota, the states kind of don’t like each other, so there was more bad blood between the fans. And Detroit, there wasn’t the same type of energy. We wanted to beat ’em, but there wasn’t like the hatred that Wisconsin people have for Minnesota, or just the old school 100-year rivalry with big Chicago and little Green Bay. It seems like with this (division), the rivalry is with the Browns and the hatred goes both ways between Steelers-Bengals and Steelers-Ravens.”

For what it’ worth, the future Pro Football Hall of Famer has a career 3-0 record against the Browns. The last time he faced Cleveland was in 2021, when he led Green Bay to a 24-22 win at Lambeau Field, passin for 202 yards and three touchdowns with zero interceptions on 24-of-34 completions.

'Hatred goes both ways': Aaron Rodgers brings up Packers experience as he prepares for Steelers-Browns rivalry 2 Sep 28, 2025; Dublin, Ireland; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) reacts after an NFL International Series game against the Minnesota Vikings at Croke Park. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

This article first appeared on WI Sports Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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