The Green Bay Packers might not play outside of the United States in 2025 after all. There had been reports about the possibility of the Packers facing the Pittsburgh Steelers in Ireland, but a new element has shifted the scenario.
During the Packers' tailgate tour, president/CEO Mark Murphy revealed that the Steelers will most likely protect Green Bay's game to play it in Pittsburgh, forcing the NFL to choose another team to play in Europe.
Meanwhile, the Packers will probably end up playing at Acrisure Stadium this upcoming season. Usually, it wouldn't mean that much, but this might get bigger soon.
The Aaron Rodgers factor
At this point, the Steelers are the favorites to land veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers. With the New York Giants signing Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston in free agency, they are not an option for Rodgers anymore, and it sounds like the Minnesota Vikings will prioritize last year's first-round pick J.J. McCarthy.
If Rodgers wants to play in 2025, barring an injury elsewhere, the Steelers are the only realistic option right now.
The veteran quarterback visited Pittsburgh a few weeks ago and had a private workout with wide receiver DK Metcalf, so the indications are clear. Nothing has been agreed to or signed at this point, but there's a good chance Rodgers will play for the Steelers.
And if that's the case, Aaron Rodgers may face the Packers for the first time ever—something he didn't do during his time with the New York Jets.
Special moment
After all, the NFL would probably be happy with this outcome. Instead of scheduling a Packers-Steelers game in the morning for the American market for a game in Ireland, the Steelers' protection request would allow the NFL to put this game in a much bigger stage.
With Rodgers meeting the Packers again and two storied franchises, it's easy to see the NFL scheduling this game for a Sunday Night Football, for instance.
That would be a special moment for Rodgers and for Packers fans. Meanwhile, the Steelers would have a big game at home, while transfering a lower-profile matchup to Europe.
Now, it's just a matter of what Aaron Rodgers will decide for his career.
International schedule
For the Packers, the idea of not traveling abroad sounds like a positive outcome. Over the past three seasons, Green Bay had two international games—and two losses. In 2022, the Packers were the home team against the New York Giants in the United Kingdom, and last year they opened their regular season versus the Philadelphia Eagles in Brazil.
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