The new season begins with one of the most fascinating storylines in football. Aaron Rodgers, a Super Bowl champion and four-time MVP, will make his Pittsburgh Steelers debut on Sunday afternoon in East Rutherford. The 20th-year quarterback takes the field at MetLife Stadium against the team that once pinned its hopes on him, the New York Jets, who now turn to Justin Fields at quarterback. Expectations in Pittsburgh could not be higher. Steelers fans have watched Mike Tomlin produce winning seasons with a long line of mid-level and inconsistent quarterbacks. Now he has one of the most decorated passers in NFL history at the controls. Rodgers brings pedigree and leadership to a roster already rich with veteran talent. Cam Heyward remains the anchor in the trenches, T.J. Watt continues as one of the league’s most feared pass rushers, and the secondary has been bolstered by the addition of Jalen Ramsey. On offense, wide receiver DK Metcalf provides Rodgers with the kind of physical mismatch who can tilt a game. Combined with steady weapons already in place, the Steelers feel built to contend immediately. The question is how much Rodgers still has left. At 41, he enters this season with health restored and a renewed sense of perspective. The physical tools that made him one of the greatest of his generation are still there, but durability across a full campaign is no guarantee. What he does have is experience, intelligence, and a competitive edge sharpened by the frustrations of his final years in Green Bay and the abrupt ending in New York. By all accounts, Rodgers has approached this opportunity with gratitude, embracing the culture of a franchise that values tradition and discipline. For Steelers fans, it is a blend of excitement and caution. Some see Super Bowl potential. Others temper their hopes with the reality of Rodgers’ age and the strength of the AFC. Either way, the marriage of quarterback and franchise has created buzz unlike anything Pittsburgh has felt in years. Across the field, the Jets enter with their own reset. After the short-lived Rodgers experiment, they traded for Justin Fields in the offseason and handed him the keys. Fields brings mobility, toughness, and the chance for growth, but he will be tested immediately by a defense that can suffocate opponents. His connection with wide receiver Garrett Wilson will be central to New York’s chances of pulling an upset. Running back Breece Hall offers balance, but the Jets’ offensive line will need to hold firm against relentless pressure from Watt and Heyward. Defensively, the Jets remain dangerous. Quinnen Williams controls the middle, and Sauce Gardner is already one of the best cornerbacks in football. If they can disrupt Rodgers early and force him into uncomfortable situations, the Jets can keep this one close. But sustaining that intensity for four quarters against a team as deep and disciplined as the Steelers will be a tall task. The oddsmakers see the Steelers as slight favorites, listing them at two and a half points. It is an acknowledgment of Pittsburgh’s defensive advantage and Rodgers’ presence, but it also reflects respect for New York’s defensive core. For Pittsburgh, the formula is clear. Protect Rodgers, lean on a defense that can hold opponents under twenty points, and allow Tomlin’s culture to steady the course. For New York, the path depends on Fields’ ability to make plays under pressure and avoid turnovers. The Jets will need big moments from Wilson and Hall, and the defense must create extra possessions by forcing mistakes. The emotion surrounding Rodgers’ return to MetLife will be unmistakable. Fans will react with a mix of admiration and bitterness, remembering what could have been. Rodgers, though, appears to be in a different place in his career. Surrounded by veterans, coached by Tomlin, and embraced by a culture that thrives on consistency, he enters this opener with optimism. My view is that this game will show why the Steelers pursued him. Rodgers does not need to be perfect. He needs to guide an already talented roster with poise and vision. If he does that, Pittsburgh has every chance to start the season strong and build momentum toward the goals their fans are already dreaming about.