Aaron Rodgers Fires Back at Justin Fields’ ‘He Should’ve Retired’ Jab Ahead of Week 1 Showdown

Pittsburgh, PA – Aaron Rodgers unleashed a sharp retort at New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields, who claimed the Pittsburgh Steelers’ new signal-caller “should’ve retired before the Jets released him.” The fiery exchange has set the stage for their Week 1 clash at MetLife Stadium.

Fields, speaking on WFAN’s Boomer & Gio on June 12, didn’t hold back: "The Steelers have never been this easy to beat. Rodgers should’ve retired when the Jets cut him, because now I’m here to finish what he couldn’t. We’ll crush them at MetLife, no doubt about it."

Rodgers, 41, who signed a one-year, $13.5 million deal with the Steelers, responded at minicamp with his trademark swagger: “Kid, when I stepped into the NFL, you were still learning to talk. Pipe down and show me something on the field.”

The four-time MVP’s clapback, per ESPN, underscores his defiance amid doubts about his age. In 2024, Rodgers threw for 3,897 yards and 28 touchdowns with the Jets, per Pro-Football-Reference.com, proving he’s far from finished despite a 5-12 season.

Fields, 26, who signed a two-year, $40 million deal with the Jets, led a 4-2 start for the Steelers in 2024 before being benched. His 1,110 yards and five touchdowns pale against Rodgers’ veteran prowess, fueling the rivalry, per NFL.com.

Steeler Nation erupted on X: “Rodgers owns Fields!” (@SteelerFanatic). Jets fans countered: “Justin’s our future!” (@GangGreenNY). The matchup, pitting Pittsburgh’s sixth-ranked defense against New York’s revamped offense, is a must-watch, per Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

 

Rodgers’ arrival, alongside D.K. Metcalf and Christian McCaffrey, signals Pittsburgh’s all-in push to end an eight-year playoff win drought. With $31.88 million in cap space, per Spotrac, GM Omar Khan is banking on Rodgers’ leadership for Super Bowl LX.

As training camp looms, Rodgers’ fiery words ignite anticipation for September 7’s opener. Will he silence Fields and prove his doubters wrong? Stay tuned to ESPN for updates on this electrifying showdown!