Age is just a number, but NFL fans will be using all their fingers and toes to count the combined ages of Aaron Rodgers and Joe Flacco on Thursday night.
Granted, Rodgers, 42, and Flacco, 40, are not old by society’s standards, but they might as well be fossils by the NFL’s. Rodgers entered the league in 2005 – two years before the first iPhone hit the shelves. Flacco debuted in 2008 at a time when Tom Brady only had three of his seven Super Bowl rings. In other words, they’ve been around the block and back a few times.
On Tuesday, Rodgers discussed his feelings towards meeting Flacco in a battle between two of the NFL’s oldest when the Pittsburgh Steelers battle the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 7 on ‘Thursday Night Football.’
“I think it’s great for all the old guys,” Rodgers told reporters. “When I watch other sports, maybe it’s because I’m the older guy, I tend to pull for the older guys to win championships.”
While the two sides are on opposite sides of a rivalry this week, that was never the case in the past. Rodgers and Flacco notably played in opposite conferences, meaning their matchups came few and far between. The Steelers’ signal caller spoke about his appreciation for his opposite number in Week 7.
‘I’ve known Joe for a long time,’ Rodgers said. ‘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.’
Rodgers added that he a lot of respect for Flacco’s game, especially since the quarterback position has evolved over the years.
‘I’ve just always enjoyed watching him throw the ball,’ Rodgers said. ‘He’s got one of the prettiest balls. Tight spiral. Deep ball thrower. He is one of the old school, 2000s, ’90s prototypical quarterbacks.
‘When I was coming in the game, it was the big guys who had the big arms. Now you’re seeing some really athletic guys playing the position. I think he would probably agree with me. Sometimes when you watch how the guys play, you feel like they’re playing a different position because of the kind of athleticism and the way the game is called. There’s more read-option called. You’re seeing more of the college game in the NFL. But I’ve always enjoyed watching Joe play. I have a lot of respect for him and his game.’
Already dubbed the ‘Icy Hot Bowl’ by the Steelers’ Cameron Heyward, both quarterbacks might be requiring plenty of it after playing on a short week.
Thursday night’s game marks just the third matchup between two 40-year-old quarterbacks in NFL history, according to NFL Research.
The previous two occurred during the 2020 season, when Drew Brees and Tom Brady faced off in a pair of NFC South matchups between the New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.