The NFL schedule-makers made a gamble when putting together the league’s Week 1 slate, and it couldn’t have worked out much better following the confirmation that veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers will finally be signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

It’s the season opener for both the Steelers and Jets. Sept. 7 at 1 p.m. EST, MetLife Stadium. It might be must-watch television.

Well, we have yet to know if either team will be fun to watch, especially on offense. But the storylines already look riveting.

The headline is the quarterback swap. Justin Fields was imperfect last season but led the Steelers to a 4-2 start before being benched the rest of the year in favor of Russell Wilson.

There was talk of Fields re-signing with Pittsburgh this offseason after Wilson wasn’t brought back, but instead Fields went to the Jets on a two-year, $40 million deal with $30 million guaranteed.

Then there was Rodgers, jettisoned from New York after being heralded as the franchise’s savior just two seasons earlier. After a long wait, the future Hall of Famer finally agreed to sign with the Steelers. Reports have indicated it will be a one-year contract, somewhere in the $20 million range — just about Fields’ new yearly average with the Jets.

A lot of factors were at play — the Steelers understandably didn’t seem ready to commit to Fields being the starter for any period of time, and there was drama bubbling to the surface between Rodgers and the Jets — but in both cases, each team could’ve easily brought back their respective quarterbacks if they really wanted to.

But they didn’t.

Both players and teams will have something to prove in that Week 1 game. Fields still has work to do to prove he can be a starting quarterback in the NFL, and the Jets are hoping he and the team’s new coaching regime can finally put the franchise back on the right track — something Rodgers couldn’t do last season.

As for Rodgers, his legacy as a player is secure, but he’s on the precipice of retirement and trying to remain a relevant, quality starter. The Steelers are hoping the experience the four-time MVP and former Super Bowl champion brings can result in Pittsburgh’s first playoff win since the 2016-17 season.

Two franchises with something to prove. Two quarterbacks with something to prove. And one of those quarterbacks is Aaron Rodgers, who’s no stranger to making waves in the media.

The storylines ahead of the Steelers-Jets Week 1 game are going to be a whole lot of fun. And while optimism around Pittsburgh’s upcoming season might not be drastically raised with the Rodgers signing, one thing is a near-guarantee: 2025 just got a lot more entertaining for Steelers fans.