The Chicago Bears will get a chance to notch a victory over their longest-standing player nemesis in the NFL, Aaron Rodgers, this season.
That may or may not be good news.
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Rodgers, 41, spent the 2023 and 2024 seasons with the New York Jets after tormenting the Bears with the Green Bay Packers for the better part of 18 years. This offseason, Rodgers signed a one-year, $13.6 million contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he replaces former Bears QB Justin Fields. In another twist, Fields signed with the Jets in free agency.
This move puts Rodgers on track to face the Bears in Week 12 of the 2025 regular season, presuming he remains healthy.
Moreover, that matchup will be at Soldier Field.
Rodgers is 24-5 in his career against the Bears. His last loss to his former NFC North rival was in Week 15 of the 2021 season. That is where Rodgers notoriously let Bears fans know “I own you” in 2021.
Rodgers completed 63% of his passes for 3,897 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions with the Jets in 2024.
He has a 6,965-64-10 on 67.3% completion in his career against the Bears.
Rodgers has often said that he loves the city of Chicago. However, the 10-time Pro Bowl QB has never passed up an opportunity to stick it to the Bears, even poking fun at the optimism around new head coach Ben Johnson.
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Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio noted Rodgers’ contract, worth up to $19.5 million, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, was worth more than the QB said he informed teams he was willing to play for.
“Of course, only $10 million is guaranteed so Mr. Yeah I’ve Been Immunized can claim he said he’d play for $10 million, and he’s playing for $10 million,” Florio wrote on June 7. “He’s not. He’s playing for $13.65 million plus incentives. The full base amount is guaranteed as a practical matter. As of Week 1, any non-guaranteed salary becomes fully guaranteed under the labor deal. Which means that the only way he gets only $10 million is if he’s cut before Week 1.
“Which will not happen.”
Rodgers addressed rumors that he was seeking a multi-year deal or an exorbitant dollar amount on his next deal.
“I’ve been straight up with these teams from the start about where I was at, starting with the money thing,” Rodgers said on “The Pat McAfee Show” in April. “I told every single one of the teams I talked to, it ain’t about the money. I’ll play for $10 million. I don’t care.”
Rodgers, who has earned $381.7 million in his career, is No. 1 on the all-time earnings list.
Even if he did say that he would play for a lower amount, the market dictates value, and the Steelers valued him more than expected.