Steelers' Joe Haden can't wait to face his 'favorite' quarterback Sunday at Green Bay

Joe Haden will share the football field with his “favorite” NFL quarterback Sunday when the Pittsburgh Steelers play at the Green Bay Packers.

The quarterback in question, though, is not Haden’s teammate and two-time Super Bowl champion Ben Roethlisberger.

No offense to Big Ben, mind you, but the 12-year veteran cornerback has a special place in his heart for Aaron Rodgers.

“I love Ben to death, but I’m just being honest,” Haden said Wednesday after the Steelers wrapped up their first of three practices this week in advance of their trip to Lambeau Field. “Ben is definitely up there, but A-Rod, he’s my … I like A-Rod more than Tom (Brady), more than Patrick Mahomes. I just like A-Rod.”

Three times during a five-minute interview Haden professed his admiration for Rodgers, who won his third NFL MVP award in 2020 and, of course, has a Super Bowl win over the Steelers.

Haden said it would be “special” to get an interception against Rodgers, whom he has faced only once — in 2013 when he was a member of the Cleveland Browns.

“Always trying to get a pick for the team is the biggest thing,” he said. “Going against these dudes, he’s one of the best ever. He’s my favorite quarterback ever. To get one against him would be special.”

The game Sunday will mark the first time Rodgers has faced the Steelers at Lambeau Field in his 17-year career. His only other regular-season appearance against them came in 2009 at Heinz Field.

When the teams last met in 2017, Rodgers was on injured reserve, and Haden missed the game with a broken fibula. Four years earlier, Rodgers picked apart Haden’s Browns in a 31-13 victory. It was one of only two games that season in which Haden didn’t have at least one pass breakup.

Rodgers was inactive when the Steelers faced the Packers later in the 2013 season.