Thanksgiving was supposed to be the emotional checkpoint. Back in January, Aaron Rodgers looked back on his time with the Jets (so far), and one could sense that the man was at peace. “Thankful for the way the guys made me feel welcome… Thankful for the fans,” he said. He called it a trying season, but one filled with moments that mattered. But that was a closure. One that was coming after A-Rod couldn’t guide the Gang Green to the postseason. Gratitude. A quiet exit.

However, that peaceful, grateful version of Aaron Rodgers didn’t last long. A few weeks after he spoke like a man writing his final Jets chapter, reality gave him a sharp rewrite. “He’s like, ‘This was horrible; they just disrespected me completely,” he vented to Devante Adams. No real explanation. No discussion. Just a sterile “We’re gonna move in a different direction.” After everything – one Achilles tear, two offseasons of hype, and a dozen press conferences – they ended it with a snap of their fingers.

Now Rodgers has circled September 7th in blood-red Sharpie. His first regular-season snap as a Steelers will be in MetLife – right where the Jets cut him loose. Speaking to NFL Network’s Kyle Brandt during Back Together Weekend, the new Steelers QB couldn’t hide the edge in his voice when asked about opening his season at MetLife – aka, Jet Life – against the team that dumped him. “Did they have any inside info? Who were they talking to?” he asked, smirking. “I’d love to know…I’m excited. You know, we get to play to play the Jets.” Translation: Circle Week 1. That’s not just a game, that’s a payback tour kickoff. Revenge? Not directly said. But you could feel it.

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After all, Rodgers didn’t stop at the Jets. He laid out the full schedule like a man mapping his closure tour. “Then play Seattle, where DK just came from, go to Chicago, which I mean, obviously we’re playing FC North, go to Chicago, Green Bay in Pittsburgh, some weird uniforms though, that’d be strange,” he said. And just when you thought it couldn’t get more poetic? One of those NFC North showdowns is happening in Ireland. Add in the Justin Fields angle, and things just couldn’t get any more interesting. 

But coming back to Rodgers. Even his training camp start screamed vengeance reboot. First throw? A pick to linebacker Patrick Queen. But Rodgers didn’t panic. “Good to get that out the way,” he said. “Anybody that’s watched me practice over the years, you like to try certain throws at certain times, and anybody that’s watched me in the games knows I’ve been pretty stellar taking care of the football over the years.” He’s throwing to DK Metcalf now – his suitemate at St. Vincent College – and finding rhythm as Mike Tomlin ramps up the adversity. However, the Steelers haven’t just given him a fresh start. They gave him a warpath.

Still, Will Howard steals the spotlight

How does a four-time MVP walk into Steelers camp…and get upstaged by QB4? Welcome to Pittsburgh, where loyalty is earned one snap at a time – and apparently, Will Howard just jumped the line. When the Steelers opened camp in Latrobe on Saturday, fans didn’t save their loudest roar for Aaron Rodgers, the Hall-of-Famer-in-waiting. Nope. That honor went to Howard, who currently sits fourth on the depth chart.

One sharp pass to Montana Lemonious-Craig later, and the place erupted. “The people love Will Howard,” reported the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “The current QB4 on the depth chart gets a MASSIVE reaction from the crowd,” as per The Athletic’s Mike DeFabo. And Rodgers noticed. Oh, he definitely noticed.

Let’s not forget: Aaron Glenn-led NY JETS didn’t just release Rodgers. In the 41-year-old’s terms they humiliated him. After all, AG summoned him across the country for a 20-second breakup. Without any warning or respect. Just a thanks-but-no-thanks to a legend. So yeah, the boos – or lack of cheers – from Steelers fans might not sting. But that Jets game? That’s personal. And if Will Howard is QB4 now, Rodgers is playing like QB1 with a vengeance.