The Green Bay Packers selected Utah State quarterback Jordan Love with the 26th overall pick in the 2020 draft. Naturally, this pick sparked controversy among fans. Many oppose the pick as Rodgers is still playing at a high level and has stated that he wants to play beyond his current contract. Others have compared this situation to the one the Packers had when the drafted Rodgers with the 24th overall pick in 2005. The claim is that Love can learn under Rodgers just as Rodgers learned under Favre. The relationship between Favre and Rodgers, though, may not have been as good as people remember.
That Relationship Didn’t Happen
To say that Aaron Rodgers and Brett Favre got off on the wrong foot would an understatement. Rodgers made headlines recently by calling Jordan Love to congratulate him on being drafted. Maybe that is because he did not get such a friendly welcome from Favre. “My contract doesn’t say that I have to get Aaron Rodgers ready to play,” Favre said of how he planned to mentor Rodgers. “Now hopefully he watches me and gets something from that.”
Things Were Really Awkward
Favre, who had hinted at retirement several times before and after Rodgers was drafted, retired from the NFL after the 2007 season. However, he unretired and showed up to camp in 2008 expecting his job to be waiting for him. The Packers, though, had already planned to move ahead with Aaron Rodgers. Favre was infamously traded to the New York Jets and then played two seasons with the Vikings.
They’re Friends Now
Since the 2008 incident, the two Packers’ greats have made amends. They consider one another to be friends and communicate regularly. Rodgers has said that he understands Favre’s comments about mentoring him and holds no ill will towards his former mentor.
Now Favre has the chance to mentor Rodgers once again: how to train the player who may eventually replace you.
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