Successor and mentor reunited in Pittsburgh as the Packers faced their former franchise icon, sharing a private moment before Green Bay’s preseason clash against the veteran’s new team.
The atmosphere would have been better at Lambeau Field, but Aaron Rodgers had a sort of reunion with the Green Bay Packers on Thursday night.
Rodgers, now the starting quarterback on the Pittsburgh Steelers, was a non-participant in Thursday night's preseason game at Acrisure Stadium. Rodgers' successor with the Packers, Jordan Love, went 3 of 5 passing for 18 yards in Green Bay's 28-9 loss to the Steelers.
During his postgame news conference, Love told reporters he and Rodgers had a conversation before the contest.
"Man, that was great. Just being able to see Aaron and just talk briefly," Love said. "Any chance we get, it's always awesome.
"Anytime you see familiar faces on the other side, and someone I was able to share a room with for three years, so it was great to be able to see him."
Love wouldn't go into details about what he and Rodgers talked about.
"Nothing deep, nothing deep, just talking, just make sure everybody's good and seeing how we're doing, but nothing deep," Love said.
Packers head coach Matt LaFleur missed out on an opportunity to meet up with Rodgers before the game. LaFleur says he still cheers for Rodgers when he's not facing him.
"I didn't get to say hello to him," LaFleur said of Rodgers. "That was a bummer. I was hoping to see him, but certainly a guy that I've got a ton of respect for. And you know, as long as he's not playing for the Green Bay Packers, I always root for him."
Unless the Packers and Steelers meet in the Super Bowl, that will be the last time Rodgers faces the team that drafted him with the No. 24 pick in the 2005 draft.
Getting to see Rodgers was not the highlight of Love's night. Love was pleased to see the debut of rookie kicker Trey Smack, who went 3 for 3 on field goals, including a 58-yard attempt.
"It was awesome," Love said. "I think that was definitely the highlight of the night--him hitting two 58-yard field goals, so that was awesome. You know, making all his kicks. I'm happy for him. That was definitely the highlight of that right there."
