Aaron Rodgers-Damar Hamlin jersey swap: Jets QBs write heartfelt message to Bills safety in postgame exchange

The Jets and Bills have a long history together, and bad blood spilled over in the form of a few skirmishes in Monday night's hard-fought game. However, it was all love between two of the biggest names on the field.

Jets QB Aaron Rodgers and Bills safety Damar Hamlin swapped jerseys after Buffalo's 23-20 win, bringing together a future Hall of Famer with four MVPs and a player whose death less than two years ago made international headlines.

The moments immediately after the game ended couldn't have been too pleasant for Rodgers, whose final pass was intercepted as Mike Williams fell to the ground, but the Jets QB left a heartfelt message for Hamlin on New York's throwback jersey.

Here's a look at what Rodgers said to Hamlin after “Monday Night Football.”

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Jersey swap between Aaron Rodgers and Damar Hamlin

Hamlin showed off his newly purchased Rodgers jersey after the Bills' win on Monday, and it came with a special message.

“You are an inspiration to me and millions! Love, my brother!” Rodgers wrote on the jersey, praising the remarkable journey Hamlin made back to the football field after his cardiac arrest.

Damar Hamlin swapped Aaron Rodgers' jersey.

“You are an inspiration to me and millions!” Rodgers wrote. “Much love, my brother!” pic.twitter.com/cBCq7Ec7i3

— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) October 15, 2024

Hamlin told reporters he felt like “a kid on Christmas” when he received Rodgers' jersey.

Aaron Rodgers had his jersey sent to the Bills' locker room for security reasons, Damar Hamlin. Hamlin said he felt like a kid that Christmas and it was one of the best gifts

— Katherine Fitzgerald (@kfitz134) October 15, 2024

Hamlin was only seven years old when Rodgers entered the NFL, meaning he almost certainly watched and admired the four-time MVP as a child. That the two met on the field in 2024 is a testament to Rodgers' longevity, but also to Hamlin's tenacity.

Hamlin almost died on an NFL field in January 2023. After being resuscitated from cardiac arrest, he still had to walk a few steps to ensure he could lead a normal life. Not only did he overcome these stages, but he also managed to return to the field by the start of the 2023 season.

That wasn't the end of Hamlin's journey back, however, as he earned a starting spot this season, starting each of the Bills' first six games. The 26-year-old safety recorded his first career interception in a blowout win over the Jaguars in Week 3.

Hamlin and the Bills are at a high 4-2 as they try to put a game of penalties behind them, and he now has a friend in Rodgers. The two will meet again in Week 17 when Buffalo hosts the Jets.