Aaron Rodgers may be 42 and the second-oldest player in the NFL this season, but you wouldn’t know it by the way he moved on Sunday. In a game that felt like a throwback in more ways than one, Rodgers helped guide the Steelers to a 29-24 win over the Lions in a finish that was as wild as they come.
For Rodgers, this wasn’t just another game-it was a familiar matchup. After spending 18 seasons with the Packers, he’s no stranger to Detroit.
And while the jerseys may have changed, the rivalry clearly hasn’t. Rodgers was seen chatting and laughing with some of the Lions’ holdovers from his NFC North days, but in classic Rodgers fashion, there was a little trash talk mixed in with the nostalgia.
One moment stood out late in the game when Rodgers took off on a scramble and managed to outrun Lions linebacker Jack Campbell. After the play, Rodgers offered Campbell a hand up-then followed it with a jab that only a seasoned vet with a sharp tongue could deliver.
“Oh, you don’t want me to help pick you up? Why, ‘cause you’re slower than a 42-year-old?
Is that why? You’re slower than a 42-year-old?”
It was vintage Rodgers-competitive, witty, and still more mobile than most expect from a quarterback two decades into his career.
Rodgers only logged two runs for nine yards on the day, so it’s clear he’s not looking to make a living with his legs anymore. But when the moment calls for it, he can still turn it up just enough to keep a defense honest-and maybe embarrass a linebacker or two along the way.
It’s not just about the stats with Rodgers at this point in his career. It’s the savvy, the situational awareness, and yes, the ability to needle an opponent with a perfectly timed quip. He’s still playing the game at a high level, and as Sunday showed, he hasn’t lost his edge-or his wheels.