— At MetLife Stadium on Sunday, the New York Jets opened their season against the Pittsburgh Steelers; a late touchdown by Justin Fields tightened the contest and sent the game into a tense finish.
Key Takeaways
- Week 1 kickoff: Jets hosted the Steelers at MetLife Stadium on Sept. 7, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. ET.
- Justin Fields started for the Jets after signing a two-year, $40 million contract in the offseason.
- Aaron Rodgers returned to MetLife as a member of the Steelers on a one-year deal.
- Fields’ touchdown late in the game narrowed the margin and produced a down-to-the-wire finish.
- Both quarterbacks’ early-season performances will shape narrative about team direction and individual futures.
- Live updates were current as of .
Verified Facts
The Jets opened their 2025 campaign at home against Pittsburgh on Sunday afternoon. The game was scheduled for a 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff at MetLife Stadium and served as New York’s Week 1 fixture.
Justin Fields took the field for the Jets after the team signed him to a two-year, $40 million contract during the offseason. Fields’ late touchdown came after several drives that tested Pittsburgh’s defense and helped tighten the score in the game’s closing stages.
Aaron Rodgers, who had played for the Jets in recent seasons, is now with the Steelers on a one-year contract signed this offseason. The matchup marked Rodgers’ return to MetLife Stadium as a visiting player after two difficult seasons in New York.
As of the latest update at 4:27 p.m. ET, the contest was unresolved and headed toward a close finish; play-by-play developments continued to be reported live.
Context & Impact
This Week 1 meeting carried outsized attention because it paired two veteran quarterbacks with contrasting recent trajectories. Fields arrives under a short-term, higher-value deal intended to give him a platform to lead the Jets, while Rodgers’ one-year pact with Pittsburgh has prompted conversation about the twilight of a Hall of Fame career.
For New York, an early performance from Fields that includes a late touchdown can settle questions about his readiness to take control of the offense and influence coaching decisions in subsequent weeks. For Pittsburgh, how Rodgers responds in a former home stadium factors into evaluations of roster fit and playoff prospects.
Team records and divisional standing will still depend on how both clubs follow up after Week 1, but a close opener typically increases scrutiny on play-calling, red‑zone execution and late-game management.
- Short-term effects: Momentum swings for the winning side; pressure on coaching staff if late-game execution falters.
- Long-term effects: Early quarterback performance can shape trade, roster and play-calling choices during the season.
No extended postgame comments had been issued by either team media office by 4:27 p.m. ET.
Team media relations
Unconfirmed
- Wider speculation that the 2025 season will be Aaron Rodgers’ final NFL season remains unconfirmed.
- Any immediate roster moves or injury details not announced by team communications offices were not verified as of the last update.
Bottom Line
Sunday’s opener between the Jets and Steelers turned into a late, watchable contest after Justin Fields found the end zone. Fields’ early impact and Aaron Rodgers’ return to MetLife will be focal points as both teams assess their Week 1 performances and plan for the stretch run.