Aaron Rodgers is glad to finally face a quarterback from his generation this season.
Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers pay a visit to the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday for a Week 7 matchup at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. Opposite the 41-year-old Rodgers is 40-year-old Joe Flacco, whom the Bengals acquired to serve as the team’s stopgap sans Joe Burrow.
On Tuesday, Rodgers spoke candidly about what the matchup means for “all the old guys” left in the NFL.
“I think it’s great for all the old guys,” Rodgers said, via Steelers.com’s Jim Wexell. “I know that when I watch other sports, maybe it’s because I’m the older guy, but I tend to pull for the older guys to win championships.
“… I’ve known Joe for a long time. He’s been great coming to my charity event. He’s been a great ambassador for the league. He’s had a great career. And it’s fun that we’re both still playing.”
In Rodgers’ first five games with the Steelers, the average age of his QB counterparts was 26.6. Minnesota Vikings backup Carson Wentz, who is nine years younger than Rodgers, is the oldest signal caller the Steelers have faced thus far.
Rodgers’ opponents included a 23-year-old Drake Maye and a 24-year-old Dillon Gabriel, who superseded Flacco as the Cleveland Browns’ QB1.
Flacco recently went viral on social media when he delivered a poignant reflection on his own football mortality. The 18-year NFL veteran sounded like a man ready to play in the league until his body can no longer handle the grind. Rodgers seems to be doing the same.
