PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers made history overseas this week, and so did their new quarterback, Aaron Rodgers. In a dramatic and historic matchup at Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland — the first-ever NFL regular season game held on Irish soil — Rodgers led the Steelers to a narrow but thrilling 24–21 victory over the Minnesota Vikings.
For many fans, the game itself was about more than just the final score. It was about Rodgers proving that even late in his career, he still has the ability to deliver moments that echo across NFL history.
The Steelers came out strong, building an early lead with sharp passing and explosive plays. Rodgers, now wearing the black and gold after a long and decorated career in Green Bay and a short stint in New York, looked rejuvenated as he orchestrated the offense. Running back Kenneth Gainwell provided balance on the ground, while star wide receiver DK Metcalf was a constant deep threat, stretching the Vikings’ defense in ways Pittsburgh fans haven’t seen in years.
But as the second half wore on, the Steelers’ defense began to struggle. Minnesota clawed its way back into the game, closing the gap and forcing the Steelers to rely on Rodgers’ arm and veteran composure. Despite the mounting pressure, Rodgers remained steady, making clutch throws when it mattered most.
The signature moment came when Rodgers uncorked a deep ball to Metcalf, an 80-yard strike that electrified the crowd and shifted the momentum back to Pittsburgh. With that touchdown, Rodgers etched his name once again in the record books — setting a new NFL milestone for the most passing touchdowns of over 50 yards in league history.
Yet that wasn’t the only piece of history Rodgers made in Dublin. By tossing multiple scores against the Vikings, he also joined an elite group that, until now, contained only one man: Tom Brady. Rodgers became just the second quarterback in NFL history to throw at least 60 passing touchdowns against two different teams. For Brady, it was the Dolphins (72), Bills (72), and Jets (60). For Rodgers, the Vikings joined the Chicago Bears as his two most frequent victims, each now on the wrong end of 60-plus Rodgers touchdowns.
The accomplishment carries both weight and intrigue. To reach a third team, Rodgers would need six more touchdowns against the Detroit Lions. The Steelers are slated to face Detroit late this season, in the third-to-last game of the regular schedule. Even with Rodgers’ brilliance, expecting him to toss six touchdowns in a single game — especially at this stage in his career — feels unrealistic. Rodgers’ single-game high for touchdowns this season is four. That means he would almost certainly need at least one more matchup against Detroit to have a real shot at the mark.
Timing, however, may not be on his side. The Steelers are not scheduled to play the Lions in 2026, and given Rodgers’ age and the speculation surrounding the twilight of his career, the opportunity to hit that three-team milestone may never come. It would require either a shift in schedule, a postseason meeting, or even a future team change for Rodgers to have another crack at Detroit.
Still, the fact that Rodgers has even entered this rare company speaks volumes. Joining Brady in any statistical category is an achievement in itself. Doing so in such a dramatic and global stage — the NFL’s first regular-season game in Ireland — only makes it more memorable.
Rodgers, never one to shy away from legacy talk, brushed off questions about records after the game, insisting the only number that mattered was the win. “It’s about playing for my teammates, for this city, and for the love of the game,” he said. “Records are nice, but they’re not why I play. Nights like this — under the lights, with fans cheering in a whole new country — that’s what you remember.”
For Steelers fans, who are still adjusting to seeing Rodgers in black and gold, the performance was a promise of excitement to come. His chemistry with Metcalf is already drawing comparisons to some of the league’s great quarterback-receiver duos, while Gainwell’s consistency adds balance to a Pittsburgh offense that has sometimes struggled for identity in recent years.
The defense, while shaky in the second half, showed flashes of dominance early, hinting that with more consistency, the Steelers could emerge as a dangerous team in the AFC. And as for Rodgers, his ability to keep breaking records and lifting his team in high-pressure moments proves that age may be just a number.
For now, the image of Rodgers in Dublin — lofting an 80-yard bomb under the Irish night sky, as thousands of fans roared in a stadium better known for hurling and Gaelic football — will stand as one of the defining snapshots of the NFL’s growing international chapter.
