As the 2025 NFL season approaches, anticipation is building for one of the most intriguing Week 1 matchups: the Pittsburgh Steelers taking on the New York Jets. But behind the scenes, there’s already some friendly back-and-forth — and it involves none other than Aaron Rodgers and one of his former teammates from New York.

Rodgers, now set to make his debut as the Steelers’ quarterback, revealed in a recent interview that he’s been texting with Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson about the Week 1 clash. The two shared a short-lived but powerful connection during Rodgers’ brief stint with the Jets before a season-ending injury in 2023 cut their partnership short.

“Garrett’s a special player,” Rodgers said. “We didn’t get the chance to do what we wanted in New York, but I’ve got a lot of love and respect for him. I told him — Week 1, it’s on.”

While the banter has been light-hearted, the stakes are high. Rodgers is looking to prove he still has elite football left in him, this time in a black-and-gold jersey, while the Jets — still building around quarterback Zach Wilson — want to make a statement against their former star.

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has praised Rodgers’ leadership and quick integration into the team’s culture. “He’s all in,” Tomlin said. “And he knows Week 1 is more than just another game.”

Garrett Wilson, for his part, responded to Rodgers’ texts with playful confidence, hinting that he’s looking forward to testing Pittsburgh’s defense — especially now that it’s led by a future Hall of Famer who once threw passes his way.

The NFL loves a good storyline, and this Week 1 meeting offers plenty — Rodgers’ return to MetLife, his faceoff against a team that had high hopes for him, and a showdown with one of the most talented young receivers he never got to fully connect with.

Come kickoff, the texts will stop, the smiles will fade, and it’ll be all business on the field. But until then, the friendly fire only adds more fuel to a game already loaded with emotion and intrigue.