Zach Wilson Plays Against, Beats Childhood Idol In Week 6

SALT LAKE CITY – Former BYU and current New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson played against and defeated his childhood idol in Week 6 of the 2022 NFL season.

Wilson and the Jets were hosted by the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on Sunday, October 16.

It was the former BYU quarterback’s first time playing his childhood idol, Aaron Rodgers.

Wilson and the Jets beat Rodgers and the Packers, 27-10.

As highlighted by Wilson’s father, Mike, the second-year Jets quarterback has always dreamed of playing on the same field as Rodgers.

“Dreams do come true! I can’t tell you how many times @ZachWilson and I have watched Rogers on tv or studied his every movement on YouTube,” Mike Wilson wrote on Twitter. “Today he gets a chance to play against him. Parents if your child has a dream, embrace it. Sometimes dreams do come true.”

.@ZachWilson living out his childhood dreams playing against his idol, @AaronRodgers12. 🥺

(via @wilsonohana) pic.twitter.com/t7f1BB6VBY

— NFL (@NFL) October 16, 2022

Wilson finished the game 10/18 passing for 110 yards and a 73.9 rating. He also ran the ball five times for one yard. Rodgers was 26/41 passing for 246 yards and a touchdown with a rating of 88.1.

With the win, Wilson and the Jets improved to a 4-2 record this season. The Packers moved to 3-3.

Zach Wilson goes deep! #TakeFlight

📺: #NYJvsGB on FOX
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/EIJdhxKIY3 pic.twitter.com/c0GAqTILIl

— NFL (@NFL) October 16, 2022

Zach Wilson & Aaron Rodgers

Although the Week 6 contest was the first time Wilson and Rodgers have played against each other, it wasn’t the duos first meeting on a football field.

During the 2021 preseason, Wilson, then a rookie, and the Jets met up with the Packers for a couple of days of joint practices. Wilson had a “fanboy” moment meeting and practicing with Rodgers.

Dreams do come true! I can’t tell you how many times @ZachWilson and I have watched Rogers on tv or studied his every movement on YouTube. Today he gets a chance to play against him. Parents if your child has a dream, embrace it. Sometimes dreams do come true. pic.twitter.com/wJlAMpNFMu

— Mike Wilson (@wilsonohana) October 16, 2022

“It’s like I want to do what he’s doing, but when you’ve got 16 years of experience, and the checks and the calls he’s making on the field,” Wilson said. “If I could spend more time with him and keep asking questions I would,” Wilson said of practicing with Rodgers in 2021. “I’m a big fanboy too. We all have to kind of pretend like we’ve been there before. We’re enjoying just being out here and being able to talk to him,” Wilson said. “We’re all technically at the same level now — we’re all in the NFL — but we’re all still kind of like, ‘You know what? That’s Aaron Rodgers. That’s kind of crazy.'”

“Zach’s a good kid,” the back-to-back NFL MVP said of meeting the former BYU quarterback. “It’s fun to see him.”

In three games this season, Wilson has thrown for 462 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions with a completion percentage of 56.1.

New York’s next game is on the road against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, October 23 at 2:05 p.m. (MDT) on CBS.

Kyle Ireland is a Locals in the NFL Insider for KSLSports.com and co-host of the Yards After College Podcast. Follow him on Twitter (@kyleireland) and Instagram (@kyleirelandksl).

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