Tom Brady may still be playing in the NFL aged 45, but it seems as though Aaron Rodgers has no plans to emulate his longevity.
Rodgers signed a three-year contract extension with the Green Bay Packers in March after it was speculated that he could either retire from the game, or trade to another team. Rodgers is now 38, soon to be 39, so it's only a matter of time before one of the greats has to walk away from the sport.
The Packers quarterback still has plenty left in the tank, and with Brady still performing at the age of 45, many have tipped Rodgers to follow suit and enjoy many more years at the top. But Rodgers has reiterated that he "won't be doing that" after a damning interview on Wednesday.
Rodgers and Brady meet this Sunday in the standout clash of week three, as the Packers travel to Tampa Bay to face the Buccaneers. Despite both dominating the main stage for decades, Rodgers and Brady have only faced one another on four occasions over the years.
Although a rivalry is often discussed amongst fans, there is a lot of mutual respect between both quarterbacks, and Rodgers has paid tribute to Brady by acknowledging that he is still at the top level despite his age. But in doing so, Rodgers hinted that he won't be sticking around in the game that long.
When asked what he finds impressive about Brady's success at the age of 45, Rodgers said: "The consistency where you’re still playing at a high level and there’s not the drop off. Every great player fears turning into a real below average player on the way out.
"I don’t think anybody wants to really hang on. Maybe some guys just want to get another year, or they’re maybe on a team where they can do a lot less. But when you’ve achieved at a high level for a long time, you try and stay there for as long as you can."
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Rodgers was then asked if he'd be 'pulling a Brady' by continuing until he is 45, but it seems as though the Packers quarterback has no plans to do that. "I won’t be, I’ll be doing something else," Rodgers said.
"I have a lot of other interests outside the game. Game’s been really, really good to me. I feel I’ve given my all to the game. At some point, it’ll be time to do something else, and I strongly believe that’ll be before 45."
Rodgers' three-year deal will take him up until the age of 41, and with the Packers quarterback keen to move on and try new things, that could very well be the end of his time in the NFL. However, Brady did 'retire' this summer, before producing a stunning U-turn.
When the time comes, feelings may be very different, and Brady thought that it was his turn to walk away ahead of this season. But the Bucs are already 2-0 with Brady, and a Super Bowl win at this stage would perhaps be his greatest ever achievement.
