Don’t count on Sauce Gardner and Aaron Rodgers to recreate their viral smoking handshake when the Jets and the Steelers face off in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL season.
In an interview with Advanced revealed Tuesday, the star Jets cornerback defined that he and the brand new Steelers quarterback don’t speak anymore after Rodgers moved on from Gang Inexperienced.
“We haven’t been in contact as a lot,” Gardner mentioned. “Originally of the offseason, we had been extra in contact. I feel as soon as there was actually a actuality that he was going to go to Pittsburgh, we simply felt that we didn’t want to speak no extra.
“I really feel like we seen us having to play one another week one. We actually simply seen the longer term — I’m joking about that. However no, we haven’t actually talked. We play one another week one. I’m certain we going to speak earlier than that, and it’s going to be an excellent sport.”
It’s unclear if the previous teammates had a falling out.
Rodgers handed his bodily Saturday and signed formally with the Steelers on a one-year deal price as much as $19.5 million — after telling ESPN’s Pat McAfee his twentieth season this fall will possible be his final.
Gardner and Aaron Rodgers turned shut after Packers traded the four-time NFL MVP quarterback to the Jets forward of the 2023 season.
They went viral for his or her handshake, which mimicked them smoking marijuana, whereas at Jets OTAs in June 2023.
The following month, Gardner gifted Rodgers a series along with his jersey quantity — eight — in inexperienced diamonds.
Rodgers missed nearly all the 2023 season after tearing his Achilles simply 4 performs into Week 1.
He returned final 12 months and performed in 17 video games, recording 3,897 passing yards, 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
The previous NFL MVP had a busy offseason, together with his Jets exit.
Whereas at Steelers minicamp final month, Rodgers advised reporters that he had been married “a pair months” when requested concerning the black ring he had been carrying within the weeks prior.
Throughout an look on “The Pat McAfee Present” final week, Rodgers defined that his spouse’s id will stay non-public. He beforehand advised McAfee in December he was relationship a girl named Brittani.
The Jets completed final season with a 5-12 mark and missed the playoffs.
