Green Bay Packers team president Mark Murphy confirmed what coach Matt LaFleur has already stated: The team wants quarterback Aaron Rodgers back in Green Bay for the 2022 season.
In his monthly column at the team’s official site, Murphy reiterated the team’s unified desire to have Rodgers back.
“A key factor will be whether Aaron Rodgers comes back for the 2022 season. Matt, Brian, executive vice president/director of football operations Russ Ball and I are all in agreement that we want Aaron to come back,” Murphy wrote. “He is likely to win his fourth league MVP, is the unquestioned leader of our team and is still playing at a high level at 38.”
The comment solidifies the team’s stance while Rodgers ponders his own future. The 38-year-old quarterback has three options: return to Green Bay, request a trade, or retire.
Last month, Rodgers said all options are on the table, but he’s expecting to make a decision before the start of free agency and the new league year in mid-March.
Following the Packers’ loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the divisional round last month, LaFleur said the team was “all on the same page” about wanting Rodgers back.
“Every conversation I’ve been involved with Gute and Russ and Mark, we’re all on the same page here, so there is no debate,” LaFleur said.
LaFleur went as far as to say the team wants Rodgers to be a Packer until he retires.
In 2021, Rodgers threw 37 touchdown passes and four interceptions and led the NFL in passer rating. He is expected to win his second straight NFL MVP award next week.
If Rodgers decides to return to Green Bay, the team and player would negotiate some kind of new or restructured deal to help the salary cap in 2022. The Packers have several reasonable options for clearing cap space, but Rodgers’ contract is the biggest piece of the puzzle.
Murphy said he wasn’t worried about the cap situation because of his tremendous confidence in Ball, who helped the Packers get out of a cap hole last offseason while still giving Gutekunst a chance to build a successful roster.
“Although we will face many challenges this offseason, I have tremendous confidence in Matt, Brian and Russ,” Murphy wrote. “I don’t think anyone in the league knows the rules regarding the salary cap better than Russ. He will be our most valuable employee this offseason.”
