Inexperienced Bay, Wes – The attractive thriller tour will proceed. Aaron Rodgers of the Inexperienced Bay Packers hasn’t completed but, and now there actually is an opportunity that the four-time NFL MVP will end his profession in the identical place he began.
Rodgers introduced Tuesday on Twitter that he will probably be returning to the Packers for the 2023 season.
Each events are engaged on a brand new contract that will decrease his wage cap determine for the 2023 season whereas giving Rodgers, 38, contractual readability into his 40s.
Nonetheless, Rodgers stated the deal has but to be signed or agreed upon.
“Hey everybody, I simply wished to make clear a couple of issues; sure, I will probably be taking part in with the packers subsequent 12 months, nonetheless, reviews about me signing a contract are inaccurate, in addition to the supposed phrases of the contract ‘signed’. I’m so excited to be again #year18,” Tweeted.
The Packers Tremendous Bowl odds improved from 15-1 to 12-1 Tuesday at Caesars Sportsbook, which counts Inexperienced Bay because the NFC favourite.
Rodgers promised to keep away from a prolonged decision-making course of, and now Common Supervisor Brian Gutkunst—who was a part of Rodgers’ displeasure with the group—might lay out his plan to advance with one other Tremendous Bowl contender.
Which means Jordan Love, who’s coming into his third season within the NFL, should wait no less than one other 12 months earlier than he will get a crack on the first job. Rodgers sat for 3 seasons behind Brett Favre earlier than taking cost.
It was Gutekunst’s resolution to draft Love in 2020 that put Rodgers’ future with the group into query. Quickly after selecting Love, Rodgers reiterated his want to not solely play in his forties but additionally achieve this with the Packers. Nonetheless, he stated he realized it “will not be a actuality at this level” and added, “I am unsure the way it all works collectively at this level.”
Late within the 2020 season, Rodgers known as his future a “lovely thriller” and shortly after dropping the NFC Championship recreation to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he included himself in a gaggle of gamers with an unsure future.
What adopted was an extended low season boycott – he missed coaching, organized group actions and small camps – with ESPN reporting that Rodgers was so disgruntled with the Packers that he advised some within the group he would not play with them once more.
Upon returning to the group on the eve of the coaching camp, Rodgers signed a restructured contract that canceled the ultimate 12 months of his deal, for the 2023 season, facilitating a divorce after the 2023 season.
Over the summer season, Rodgers detailed his listing of grievances that basically boiled all the way down to this: “I solely need to be concerned in conversations that have an effect on my skill to do my job.” Gutekunst returned vast receiver Randall Cobb to Inexperienced Bay at Rodgers’ request, and it was the beginning of enhancing relations between the quarterback and the entrance desk. Certainly, all through the season, Rodgers has supplied unprecedented reward for the strikes Gutkunst has made, together with hiring veterans corresponding to nook again Rasool Douglas and passing supervisor Whitney Mercellus.
After a season-ending loss to the San Francisco 49ers within the NFC playoffs spherical, the Packers maintained their want for Rodgers to stick with the group till retirement. Coach Matt LaFleur stated the group “can be loopy to not need to come again right here”.
A day later, LaFleur stated that feeling unfold to Gutkunst, group boss Mark Murphy and director of soccer operations Ross Paul.
“We’re all on the identical web page,” LaFleur stated. “There isn’t a dialogue.”
When offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett was named coach of the Denver Broncos in January, it sparked hypothesis that Rodgers would possibly find yourself there. The Broncos had been one of many groups that confirmed an curiosity in buying and selling with Rodgers of their newest low season.
Rodgers stated he doesn’t need to be a part of the rebuilding course of. Given the Packers’ wage cap points – going into the low season with almost $45 million above the anticipated wage cap and the dearth of vast receiver Davante Adams underneath contract – that could be the case. So Rodgers will need to have obtained assurances from Gutkunst that he would have the ability to put collectively one other contender.
The Packers have received 13 video games in every of the previous three seasons, however with their mixed 39 wins, they maintain the NFL report for many wins in a three-season interval with out reaching no less than one Tremendous Bowl.
Final season, Rodgers broke Favre’s franchise report of 442 landing passes throughout his profession, and completed the season with 449. Relying on how lengthy he performs, Rodgers has an opportunity of breaking a number of different Favre data, together with profession passing yards.
Rodgers’ Participant of the 12 months season 2023 was additionally marked by controversy over the coronavirus, when he was accused of deceptive the general public about his vaccination standing by saying in August that he had been “vaccinated”. Rodgers examined constructive for COVID-19 on November 3, at which level it turned recognized that he had not obtained one of many three league-approved vaccinations however as an alternative resumed – and misplaced – his try to be thought of a coronavirus trooper because of an alternate therapy he underwent.
Nonetheless, Rodgers had one in all his most effective seasons, with solely 37 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. He missed one recreation, a loss on the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, because of obligatory quarantine as a non-immune participant, however that did not cease the Packers from incomes the highest seed within the NFC playoffs.
When Rodgers signed his then-record $134 million contract extension in August 2018, he stated, “I do not suppose that ensures something aside from perhaps the primary three years of the deal.”
4 years later, he is again for extra.
ESPN’s David Bordom contributed to this report.
