(Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA – OCTOBER 26: (L-R) Jordan Love #10 of the Green Bay Packers greets Aaron Rodgers #8 of the Pittsburgh Steelers following the game at Acrisure Stadium on October 26, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
After a disappointing and frustrating first half on Sunday night in Pittsburgh, things appeared to click for Packers quarterback Jordan Love in the second half, as he helped orchestrate a 35-25 blowout of the Steelers. It’s significant because, in turning around a 16-7 deficit after two quarters, Love played the best half of the season, maybe even of his career.
He finished with 360 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions and no sacks against a fearsome defensive front. Love also completed 20 straight passes, making some history in the process–he’s the only quarterback ever to complete 20 straight passes in a game in which he went for 350 yards with no interceptions or sacks.
Most satisfying, though, was not just the way Love played. It was that he did it with his former mentor, Packers legend and current Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, on the opposite sideline.
Packers’ Jordan Love Wants Aaron Rodgers’ Game Jersey
Love and Rodgers spoke extensively about their relationship in the week leading up to the Week 8 showdown between the teams, but when they got together for a postgame handshake, nearing midnight in the East, the meeting was quick–though well-photographed and making the rounds on social media.
Love wants to do a jersey exchange with Rodgers, but given the late hour, they’ll have to circle back on that one.
“Just said good game, keep going for the rest of the season,” Love explained. “I want him to stay healthy, and I’ve got a lot of love for him. Very fun to go against him. I told him I needed that jersey, and we’re gonna exchange them at a later time.”
(Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)Jordan Love #10 of the Green Bay Packers celebrates with fans after defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers 35-25 in the game at Acrisure Stadium on October 26, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Jordan Love Impressed Aaron Rodgers
Rodgers, similarly, was impressed with what Love was able to do in leading the comeback win. On his own, Rodgers was not bad, either, throwing for 219 yards on 24-for-36 passing with two touchdowns. But Love was the story.
“He played great, played fantastic,” Rodgers said. “He’s had a really nice season. He’s been really efficient with the football. He’s opportunistic, though. I felt like he was very patient tonight. They took the run solutions. He took the checkdowns, moved in the pocket well.
“He played outstanding.”
Packers Raised Focus After First Half
Love said the message at halftime was that the offense was not playing poorly, it was just not executing at the end of drives, part of which falls on kicker Brandon McManus, who missed two field goals.
Said Love: “When we came into the locker room at halftime, the message was that we just weren’t finishing, we weren’t executing our plays and we weren’t locked in. So, there’s plays to be made and I think we just weren’t executing those. … I think the message was, do your job, lock in, execute plays and stay on the field. And we did that.”
He did get himself into a zone in that second half, and now has the Packers at a 5-1-1 record, best in the NFL.
“I was just playing, I think you get into that as a player, where you just start flowing and playing well and everybody around me was making play as well and executing at a high level,” Love said. “Obviously, we knew what we needed to change at halftime, I am just glad we were able to do that.”
Sean Deveney is a veteran sports reporter covering the NBA, NFL and MLB for Heavy.com. He has written for Heavy since 2019 and has more than two decades of experience covering the NBA, including 17 years as the lead NBA reporter for the Sporting News. Deveney is the author of 7 nonfiction books, including “Fun City,” “Before Wrigley became Wrigley,” and “Facing Michael Jordan.” More about Sean Deveney
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