Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has declared he will make a decision over his uncertain future "sooner rather than later" after emerging from his darkness retreat.
Rodgers - who was drafted by the Packers in 2005 before assuming the starting role from Brett Favre in 2008 - has endured a difficult offseason amid plenty of questions over his future. The four-time MVP has declared a number of times that he will take the coming weeks to discover whether he will retire or return for the 2023 campaign, whether that be for the Packers or a new franchise.
The 39-year-old signed a monster new contract last offseason to earn $50.27million per year through the 2026 season, when he will be 43 years of age. Rodgers finished 2022 with 12 interceptions - the most he threw in a single campaign since 2008, his first year as a starter - while he also failed to post a single 300-yard passing game for the first time in his career.
As a result, rumours are suggesting Rodgers could leave Green Bay after 18 seasons whether that be via trade or through retirement. The veteran quarterback went on the Aubrey Marcus Podcast to talk about his future following the much-maligned and incredibly publicised darkness retreat he went on last week.
“It’s best for anybody who has an interest in this to make a decision sooner rather than later,” Rodgers said. “I remember before Favre retired, there were times in April and May, we weren’t sure if he was going to come back because he didn’t come to any of the offseason program. Then in 2008, he actually did retire in March and then said, ‘No, no no,’ in June after OTAs, ‘I actually want to come back and play’. That’s when he was traded to the Jets. There was obviously a lot of tension that summer.
“For everybody involved directly and indirectly, it’s best for a decision earlier. I feel really good about the conversations that are going to be had, that have been had with important people in my life - yourself included. But I’m not looking for somebody to tell me what the answer is. All the answers are right inside me. I touched many of the feeling on both sides in the darkness. I’m thankful for that time.
“There’s a finality to the decision. I don’t make it lightly. I don’t want to drag anybody around. I’m answering questions about it because I got asked about it. I’m talking about it because it’s important to me. If you don’t like it and you think it’s drama, and you think I’m being a diva or whatever, then just tune it out. That’s fine. But this is my life. It’s important to me. I’ll make a decision soon enough and we’ll go down that road. I’ll be really excited about it.”
If Rodgers decides to continue competing in the NFL but the Packers decide to move on, it will be interesting to see how any potential trade is facilitated. His mega contract means the Packers need to find another franchise willing to compensate them effectively while any suitor would also be wedding themselves to the media circus surrounding the quarterback.
The Packers are reportedly willing to deal Rodgers to the AFC if a trade is sanctioned, despite head coach Matt LaFleur publicly stating they hope the quarterback will return to Green Bay for 2023. A move to the Las Vegas Raiders has been touted, but links with the New York Jets are strengthening after they hired Nathaniel Hackett - a favourite of Rodgers - as offensive coordinator.
Rodgers still believes he can play at a high level regardless of what uniform he suits up in in 2023, adding: “I’ve been doubted before. Honestly, I felt in the first year that Matt was here - in ’19 - I felt at times like a game manager. I didn’t quite understand what we were doing at times on offence. My job is to take care of the football, and I did. I threw four interceptions and 26 touchdowns and we were 13-3, but I felt like there was so much more.
“Then they drafted my replacement. And then I won MVP twice. I threw 85 touchdowns and nine interceptions in two years. Obviously, there were changes that happened on the team and the coaching staff and I didn’t have my best year playing and there’s probably people who think I’m done. I thought I was done before I became MVP twice. There would be plenty of inspiration down that road.”
Sign up to our End Zone newsletter for all the latest NFL news and analysis!
