Former Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers may not be playing anymore in 2023, but he does not plan on hanging up his cleats for good. After tearing his Achilles four snaps into his regular season debut with the New York Jets, many wondered if the future Hall of Fame quarterback may be done for good.
Prior to the 2023 NFL regular season, Rodgers agreed to do his weekly segment with The Pat McAfee Show, now on ESPN. His first appearance of the year was delayed due to the injury, but he made up for it by guesting on the show on Friday.
During his segment, McAfee asked him about all the people who have said this injury is the end of his career. Rodgers had a strong message prepared for anyone who is doubting that he can come back from this:
New York Jets Quarterback Aaron Rodgers Has No Intention of Retiring
In his interview with McAfee and former Green Bay Packers teammate AJ Hawk, Rodgers said:
“Give me the doubts. Give me the timetables. Give me all the things that you think can, should, or will happen.
“Because all I need is that one little extra percent of inspiration. That’s all I need. So give me your timetables. Give me your doubts. Give me your prognostications.
“And then watch what I do.”
Rodgers then said that he researched how NBA legend Kobe Bryant rehabbed his torn Achilles during his playing career. He had his Achilles surgically repaired by the same doctor who did Kobe’s surgery.
McAfee told Rodgers that he is too old (for extra motivation), and Rodgers admitted no one his age in professional sports has ever come back from an injury like this. “Stack all the odds up against me,” he said, “and watch what happens.”
Aaron Rodgers Wants to Play Until He is 45
Obviously, Rodgers is not going to allow this injury to dictate the way he ends his NFL career. At least, that is not his plan. If he can come back, he will.
As he said in his interview with McAfee, though, no one his age has ever done it before. He followed that up with the old “just because it hasn’t been done, doesn’t mean it’s impossible.”
In an interview about a week ago (before he tore his Achilles), Rodgers had told The New York Post that he wants to play until he is 45 years old, like Tom Brady did:
“I think if you would’ve asked me five, six years ago I would have said probably not. But with the change that’s happened and some of the changes off the field I’ve made, I definitely see that now as a possibility where before I just didn’t think I’d want to, honestly.”
He was then asked if he would want to retire as a New York Jet:
“Oh definitely, yeah definitely. I’d love to play a few years here, not sure if that few is two, or three or … I mean, five would kind of get me to 45. But I definitely don’t want to be a one-and-done here.”
Interestingly, Rodgers’ predecessor in Green Bay, Brett Favre, also did not retire with the Packers. He retired with the Vikings.
Aaron Rodgers Injury History
- November 2006: Broken foot
- October 2010: Concussion
- December 2010: Concussion
- November 2013: Broken clavicle
- December 2014: Calf tear
- December 2016: Calf strain
- October 2017: Broken clavicle
- December 2018: Concussion
- September 2018: MCL Sprain/Broken fibula
- November 2021: Fractured toe
- October 2022: Fractured thumb
- November 2022: Bruised ribs
- September 2023: Achilles tear
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