Longtime Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones certainly ruffled some feathers by making a free agency move over to the rival Minnesota Vikings after being released this offseason. He was a fan favorite during his seven-year tenure in Green Bay, during which he went from a fifth-round pick to one of the league’s top backs.
After scoring 63 touchdowns and amassing over 8,000 total yards as a Packer, the versatile Jones has now taken his talents West and just a touch North to Minneapolis, where he is once again producing well for the Vikings, who are off to a somewhat surprising 3-0 start with backup quarterback Sam Darnold at the helm. Now, Jones and the Vikings will face their first major road test- a trip to Green Bay to play the Packers.
Any clash between these two longtime division rivals is always a highly intense occasion, but with Jones having crossed enemy lines, this edition, his first return to his initial NFL home, could be particularly personal. These so-called “revenge games” are always quite the focus for fans and the media, and Jones will certainly want to perform well in front of his old fans, but he’s gone out of his way to make sure there’s no bad blood between the two sides, penning an open letter in the Players’ Tribune to thank Packer fans for the past seven years of his career.
Aaron Jones’ return to Lambeau will be an emotional one.
3 years ago, he lost and found his father’s ashes on the field in his first game after his passing 💛pic.twitter.com/HPDBEJBYPe
— NFL Films (@NFLFilms) September 25, 2024
Clearly, Lambeau Field continues to be a special home for Jones, one where he made a name for himself and really connected with the culture. His letter discussed the feeling of being overlooked and unwanted as a day-three draft pick, contrasted the support he felt from established Packers stars like future Hall of Famers Davante Adams and Aaron Rodgers. Jones discussed the roller coaster of emotions he felt between signing a major contract and the passing of his father, both of which happened in a very short window, illustrating the part Green Bay’s franchise and fans have played in the key moments of his life, good and bad.
Jones did address the elephant in the room that has plagued the Packers for nearly a decade and a half now; he, along with Rodgers and Adams, together failed to deliver a Super Bowl title for the Packers, or even reach the game, despite making multiple NFC Championship Game appearances. Above all else, Jones made sure to thank both the organization and fans for making him the player he is today, and expressed that he’ll always be a Packer deep down inside- even if he’ll spend this week doing everything he can to deal them a home loss.