Is the sun finally setting on aaron rodgers’ career?
Photo via Packers Wire
As Aaron Rodgers walked off the field following the team’s loss to the Detroit Lions, he was obviously disappointed. The Packers had a shot to make the playoffs in an against-all-odds run, but fell four points short of a miracle. Now, as the Packers head into the offseason, the ever present debate as to whether the famous number 12 will don green and gold for another season is here. This offseason may look different than past years, given that backup QB Jordan Love is also up for his fifth year option. The Packers will need to make a decision about their future, and it's possible that the time has finally come to move on from the four time MVP.
Despite the team's late season rally, the surging Packers fell flat when it counted. The team struggled to overcome a late deficit in a 20-16 loss to the Detroit Lions, which would have sent them into the playoffs had they won. This game was the culmination of an unlikely turnaround for the Packers, who after falling to 4-8 after 12 games, rallied to get back to .500, and earned the opportunity to control their own destiny.
Unlike in previous years, the main catalyst behind Green Bay’s almost miraculous season turnaround was not Rodgers, but instead the team’s secondary, rushing attack, and most notably, the breakout of returner Keisean Nixon. While Rodgers’ play was by no means poor, it was mediocre at best. Rodgers turned the ball over 12 times through the air this season, the second highest mark so far in his career. Only his first season as a starter in Green Bay saw him throw more interceptions (13).
Some of these mistakes could be attributed to Rodgers’ ailing thumb, which clearly bothered him during the Packers dismal midseason stretch, where they lost seven out of eight games. His usual feather touch and pinpoint accuracy were sometimes replaced with sailing balls and wobbly spirals.
Rodgers’ numbers this season are far from the norm, and he still has the highest TD/INT ratio of any QB in NFL history. Rodgers has a career average of 4.52 touchdowns per interception, and the second place quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, has a ratio of 3.92. Tom Brady is fourth with a career mark of 3.06.
Perhaps more concerning than the interceptions this season was Rodgers’ lack of total yards through the air. In an eventful offseason that left the Packers without star wideout Davante Adams, there was uncertainty as to whether the Packers receiving room would be able to live up to the expectations of the 4 time MVP. The lack of experience in the new young corps of Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, and Samori Toure showed early and often at the beginning of the season, with Watson dropping a sure-thing touchdown on the very first play of the year.
Things improved after a breakout performance from Watson in week 10, where he caught three touchdowns, but he wouldn’t catch another after week 14. On the season, Rodgers threw for 3,695 yards, and posted a total QBR of just 39.4, both career low marks when playing the full season.
After the team’s loss to the Detroit Lions, now comes the seemingly annual reading of the tea leaves over whether Rodgers is ready to move on. But it could be different this year. After the game ended, cameras picked up Rodgers and wideout Randall Cobb walking together out the tunnel, the quarterback with his arm around Cobb's shoulder, and Cobb bracing Rodgers’ back. It didn’t seem like just a dejected walk after a loss; it carried an air of finality. Rodgers and Cobb have been teammates for nine seasons (with a short break in 2019 and 2020 where Cobb spent time in Dallas and then Houston), and Cobb has become one of Rodgers’s closest friends. Rodgers is even the godfather of one of Cobb’s children.
“I just love the man,” said Rodgers, “I’ve always had a tight friendship with him, and [there’s] just a lot of gratitude in the midst of disappointment. The best part about this game is the relationships that come out of it, because those last longer than the career, and I’m thankful for Randall.”
About his possible return next season, Rodgers promised that he won’t hold the organization hostage, which will be a sigh of relief for the Packers front office. Prior to the 2021 season, Rodgers held out until the last minute, even skipping training camp (with a $50,000 fine per missed day) until he finally agreed to the current 3-year $150 Million contract.
The twist this year is that Packers backup quarterback Jordan Love is up for his 5th-year option on his rookie contract. It seems that the Packers may be forced to pick between the young gun in Love, or the veteran in Rodgers. Keeping both quarterbacks is not out of the realm of possibility, however both players could be vital capital in an offseason where the Packers desperately need to fill some holes.
There could be a market for Love in the coming offseason, and the combination of Rodgers’ tutelage over a few seasons and his stellar appearance as a sub against the Eagles might make a few teams interested. Gambling on the backup to an all-time great is not a new trend in the NFL. Case in point: Jimmy Garoppolo and Jarret Stidham are in starting roles after spending time behind Tom Brady.
Despite an initial frosty reception to the news of the Packers drafting Love, Rodgers seems to have warmed up to the young QB. After Love’s strong performance against the Eagles, Rodgers likened their relationship to that of brothers.
“I feel like an older brother watching him do well,” Rodgers said. “I care about the kid a lot, and [it’s] fun to see his growth, and to see him just kind of relax out there.”
The Packers are no strangers to a changing of the guard at the QB position, and many long-time Packers fans will hope that Love could follow a similar path to Rodgers. Like Love, Rodgers was drafted while the team still had a Hall of Fame QB in Brett Favre, and Rodgers sat for 3 seasons before finally getting his first shot in 2008.
“I remember the day I was sleeping in San Diego, and woke up to 50 text messages that Brett had retired,” said Rodgers, “ and then the emotions hit you, and I’m that guy.”
It could be a similar situation for Love if Rodgers decides it’s finally the end of the line. Rodgers says he’ll take the time away from the game to contemplate if he still has the same hunger and drive that propelled him into becoming one of the NFL’s greatest ever quarterbacks.
At the end of the press conference following the Lions game, Rodgers was asked “If this is it, last time out there, last time here, what are you going to miss?”.
Rodgers paused, took a sip of water, and sighed. He then launched into a playful back and forth with the reporters that have covered him for so many years.
“I’m gonna miss your questions Bill, and Mike Clemens taking 10 seconds to do a lead up, and Pete angling for something, and Bob writing stories about my personal life,” joked Rodgers, “you’ve been good lately though Bob. And Jason bringing it back home with something heavy hitting, and Stephanie Sutton coming with something out of left field.”
After the call-outs, the sly grin left Rodgers’ face. He looked down, and nodded his head, clearly feeling the emotion of the moment.
“I’ll miss the guys. I’ll miss the fans.” Said Rodgers.
He turned, said thank you, and walked out the door. Possibly for the last time.
