Deliberation after Deliberation: Understanding the Psyche of Aaron Rodgers
Aaron Rodgers is a polarizing media figure that deserves an inner look into his motivations.
Introduction
Every offseason, free agency, and the combine dominate the NFL news cycle. Up until the 2021 offseason, when the Aaron Rodgers retirement controversy took over. Would he retire, stay with the Packers, or push for a trade? Those questions entered the foray into every major news outlet’s NFL coverage. The 2022 NFL offseason is no different, as Rodgers decided in 2021, he would play another season before deciding his fate. About a week from the start of the new league year, Rodgers’ future remains as unclear as ever.
Career Overview
Football is a team sport. Analysts forgo this point when they say a team is one player away from contention. Take Aaron’s 2021-22 season. Rodgers had an MVP caliber season that ended with a forgettable game from the QBs, and a special teams, standpoint. For all of Rodgers’ tremendous on-field play, he has one Super Bowl win in 15 full NFL seasons. The Packers QB has garnered over 4500 passing yards, 440 touchdown passes, and a terrific 65.3 completion percentage. To say Aaron Rodgers is one of the greatest Quarterbacks of all time is common knowledge in 2022.
Rodgers’ Legacy
Now again, football is a team sport. This narrative only goes so far when talking about Tom Brady (six championships), Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw (four championships each), and Troy Aikman (three championships). Peyton Manning, John Elway, and Ben Roethlisberger, all considered three of the greatest NFL Quarterbacks of all time, acquired two rings. Dan Marino, the star of the only perfect NFL season in the 1974 Dolphins, had one championship. But why could these legendary players not win more when they had opportunities to do so? Again, football is a team sport. Manning, Elway, Roethlisberger, and Marino played on historic teams but could never achieve the level of Brady, Montana, or Bradshaw in terms of Super Bowl victories. Aaron Rodgers is at risk of being considered one of the greatest Quarterbacks of all time without numerous championships. Granted, Rodgers did win the Super Bowl in 2010 and has been on consistent playoff contenders since he entered the NFL, but unless he wins another ring, Rodgers is not in the same light as these fabled icons.
Media, Media, Media
Now on to one of the most controversial topics in sports, social media. How much should social media impact an athlete’s life? In 2021-22, Aaron Rodgers lied to the public about his COVID-19 vaccination status accumulating social media backlash. The public will never know if social media impacted Rodgers’ playoff performance, given he was the NFL MVP. But the bottom line is there has been a bevy of distractions for the Lambeau Legend. More so than any other NFL player. Aaron Rodgers controls his narrative: leaking retirement rumors and seeking a trade. The public has fully embraced this spectacle, which is fascinating. People are awaiting the decision, which has allowed sports news outlets such as ESPN, Bleacher Report, and others to receive attention for publishing content related to one choice. In secret, Aaron Rodgers decided his future; he is just dragging out the news because it must be about him. He can go on the Pat McAfee show and spear up drama as much as he wants. But people should not care until he announces a decision himself. Anything else is a rumor. Aaron Rodgers utilizes his platform to generate attention when it should be about the larger picture. The team.
Conclusion
Even though he chooses attention, this situation needs context. Social media conglomerates have taken up the world. Athletes are at the center of the entertainment pinnacle. In that inner onion layer, Aaron Rodgers has taken up shop. It does not matter what the decision is. Once he makes that decision, Rodgers will fade to the outside layer. He will still be popular, mind you, but nowhere near where he is at this second. Aaron Rodgers is one of the greatest NFL players ever, and some argue the most talented. His play speaks for itself. But Rodgers must learn Doctor Strange's lesson from the Ancient One, 'it’s not about you'. Team players do not make life about themselves but the overall production of a larger entity. While he may not have as much social media attention as he has now, Aaron Rodgers must embrace a team-first narrative to find success in future endeavors.
References
Images courtesy of Getty Images
Statistics courtesy of Pro Football Reference