Packers See Aaron Rodgers Teammate Join NFC North Rival For 2026

Former Steelers safety Chuck Clark signs with the Detroit Lions, adding a veteran presence to their secondary.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 1:08am

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The Green Bay Packers will face one of their former quarterback Aaron Rodgers' teammates twice in the 2026-27 season. Safety Chuck Clark, who played with Rodgers on the Pittsburgh Steelers, has signed with the Detroit Lions as a free agent. Clark brings extensive starting experience and a high-character presence to the Lions' defense after spending the first six years of his career with the Baltimore Ravens and New York Jets.

Why it matters

The addition of Chuck Clark to the Detroit Lions' secondary will provide a veteran presence and playmaking ability to a division rival of the Packers. As the Packers look to improve their playoff fortunes after three straight first or second-round exits, they'll now have to game plan against a familiar face from Rodgers' time in Pittsburgh.

The details

Clark was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the sixth round of the 2017 NFL Draft out of Virginia Tech. He worked his way into the starting lineup in Baltimore and was a full-time starter from 2020-2023 before being traded to the New York Jets. Clark's time with the Jets was hampered by injuries, as he missed the entire 2023 season with a torn ACL and spent time on injured reserve in 2024 with an ankle injury and torn pectoral muscle. Now healthy, Clark will bring his experience and skills to the Lions' defense.

  • Clark was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the 6th round of the 2017 NFL Draft.
  • From 2020-2023, Clark was a full-time starter with the Ravens.
  • Clark was traded to the New York Jets in 2023 and missed the entire season with a torn ACL.
  • In 2024, Clark started 12 games for the Jets but spent time on injured reserve with an ankle injury and torn pectoral muscle.
  • Clark signed with the Detroit Lions as a free agent in 2026.

The players

Aaron Rodgers

Veteran quarterback for the Green Bay Packers who previously played with Chuck Clark on the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Chuck Clark

Safety who was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the 6th round in 2017 and spent time with the Ravens, Jets, and now the Detroit Lions.

Jordan Love

Packers quarterback who will now have to face off against his former teammate Chuck Clark twice a year in the NFC North.

Breece Hall

Jets running back who faced off against Chuck Clark during the 2025 season.

Tyreek Hill

Wide receiver who has been rumored to potentially join an NFC North rival of the Packers.

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What’s next

It will be interesting to see how Jordan Love and the Packers' offense perform against Chuck Clark and the Detroit Lions' defense in their two matchups during the 2026-27 season.

The takeaway

The Packers will have to contend with a familiar face in Chuck Clark when they face the Detroit Lions this upcoming season. Clark's addition to the Lions' secondary provides veteran leadership and playmaking ability to a division rival, presenting a new challenge for Aaron Rodgers' successor Jordan Love as he looks to lead Green Bay back to the playoffs.