Aaron Rodgers’ arrival to the Pittsburgh Steelers brought closure to one of the last remaining quarterback questions across the league. With Rodgers, expectations around the Steelers have grown, but so has the pressure for results.
Now entering the AFC North, one of the most hostile divisions in the NFL, Rodgers was already greeted with a warning from Myles Garrett, who promised to add the quarterback to his “graveyard.” And now, another rival has vowed to get revenge for a game played nearly 10 years ago.
Ravens’ Kyle Van Noy Seeks Decade-Old Revenge Against Rodgers
An athlete’s motivation can come from many places and take on different meanings, and when it involves Rodgers, there’s no shortage of fuel for his rivals. During his time with the Green Bay Packers, the quarterback completely dominated the division and earned the nickname “King of the North.” In one of those moments, Rodgers crossed paths with Kyle Van Noy during a game against the Detroit Lions.
Van Noy says he never forgot that game, where Rodgers’ performance caught his defense off guard, a unit that was coordinated by Teryl Austin, now the defensive coordinator in Pittsburgh. The edge rusher revealed he still wants payback for that matchup and will now have two chances to do it as a member of the Baltimore Ravens.
Almost two years after he had to bail because he was visiting the #Ravens — clearly a wise move by Baltimore — Kyle Van Noy joins The Insiders on @nflnetwork to talk his 21.5 sacks in two years, a 72-hour fast, mentoring young players, the chance to sack Aaron Rodgers and more. pic.twitter.com/wlq89oH1IG
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) June 24, 2025
“For whatever reason, the D-coordinator, who’s actually the D-coordinator of the Steelers, wanted to go Cover-0 all game against Aaron Rodgers. He caught us. We’re like, ‘Oh, we gotta run it.’ Ended up scoring a touchdown to Jordy Nelson. He ended up walking by and kind of tapped me on my butt, like, ‘Nice try.’ So I gotta get him back for that. That’s been there for 10 years,” Van Noy said.
The game in question was played in Week 3 of 2016 at Lambeau Field. Green Bay won 34-27 but led 31-3 before halftime. Rodgers threw for 205 yards and four touchdowns, while Jordy Nelson recorded 101 yards and two touchdowns. Van Noy finished the game without a sack, and the defense managed only two sacks on Rodgers.
Van Noy’s Career-Best 2024 Season Sets Up AFC North Showdown
But in 2024, now with the Ravens, Van Noy had the best season of his career as a pass rusher, finishing with 12.5 sacks and earning his first Pro Bowl selection. The 33-year-old linebacker has recorded 21.5 sacks in just two seasons with Baltimore since joining the team midway through the 2023 campaign.
The first matchup between the teams is scheduled for December 7 in Baltimore, and there’s no doubt Van Noy has that game circled on his calendar. Rodgers, on the other hand, is motivated to finish his career on a high note, and his move to the Steelers is expected to be the perfect fit he never found in New York.
Van Noy’s quest for revenge adds another layer to an already intense AFC North rivalry. With both teams expected to compete for division supremacy, the December showdown could carry significant playoff implications. The Ravens dominated the Steelers in their playoff meeting last season, rushing for 299 yards in a 28-14 victory, but Pittsburgh has since made roster moves specifically aimed at stopping Baltimore’s ground attack.
For Rodgers, facing the Ravens twice in his first season with Pittsburgh will serve as an early test of whether the veteran quarterback can elevate the Steelers to championship contention. At 41, the four-time MVP brings championship experience and leadership to a franchise that hasn’t won a playoff game since 2016.