Aaron Rodgers undecided on future
The Green Bay Packers were favorites against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday at Lambeau Field in the NFC Championship Game, but unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to be for the Cheeseheads. They were downed 31-26 by Tom Brady and company and eliminated a game away from the Super Bowl for the second consecutive season. It was also the fourth time in seven seasons they were ousted in the Championship game.
The question now for the organization is where exactly do they go from here? They are an aging squad led by a 37-year-old quarterback who is under contract until 2023. Despite his age though, Aaron Rodgers continues to be one of the league’s elite quarterbacks and will likely be named NFL MVP in a few weeks.
“[The Packers have] a lot of guys’ futures that are uncertain – myself included,” Rodgers said in the postgame virtual press conference, via ESPN. “That’s what’s sad about it, most, getting this far. Obviously, it’s going to be an end at some point, whether we make it past this one or not, but just the uncertainty’s tough and finality of it all.”
While Rodgers continues to be one of the NFL‘s best at his position, the Packers traded up in last year’s NFL Draft to select quarterback Jordan Love with the 26th overall pick. It was believed Love was chosen to eventually succeed Rodgers, but it remains to be seen if and when that will happen.
Rodgers has been with the Packers his entire NFL career after they drafted him 24th overall in 2005. He was selected to eventually replace Green Bay legend Brett Favre. He has one Super Bowl with the Packers, winning the NFL‘s most prestigious prize in 2011. He also has two NFL MVPs to his credit and is very likely to add a third when the award is handed out for the 2020 campaign.
However, Rodgers set a record he won’t be too pleased with on Sunday by becoming the first quarterback in history to lose four consecutive conference championship games. While it was his first on home field, he is now 1-4 in NFC title contests.
“It’s a good question,” Rodgers said when asked what the future holds, via ESPN. “I don’t know; I really don’t. There’s a lot of unknowns going into this offseason now. I’m going to have to take some time away, for sure, and clear my head and just kind of see what’s going on with everything. But it’s pretty tough right now, especially thinking about the guys that may or may not be here next year. There’s always change. That’s the only constant in this business.
“It’s a grind just to get to this point. And that makes the finality of it all kind of hit you like a ton of bricks. That’s why it’s a gutting feeling in your stomach.”
Green Bay topped the NFC standings during the regular season with an impressive 13-3 record. Packers’ fans will certainly be hoping for Rodgers to return next season after the superstar put up 48 touchdowns this season with just five interceptions. His salary-cap hit would be $36.3 million in 2021 if he does decide to come back.
