The year is 2023.
The earth is decimated following a global invasion. Every accomplishment made by humanity falls flat in the face of a superior opponent. Decimated buildings are all that remains of mankind’s hubris.
A door opens, revealing a disheveled man emerging from total darkness. Aaron Rodgers looks at the ruined skyline, falls to his knees, and weeps. In what will be humanity’s final words, Rodgers announces to the void that he’ll retire from professional football.
It’s extremely unlikely that that’s how Aaron Rodgers will announce his football future. As the Green Bay Packers’ quarterback withdraws himself in a darkness retreat to decide his football fate, life in the light continues. The four-time MVP is nearing the end of his playing career and will only continue to play if his heart is completely invested. Rodgers wants to take the necessary time to make the right decision, but he also doesn’t want to handicap the team’s off-season moves.
With the Super Bowl in the rearview mirror and the off-season heating up, both Rodgers and the team look to the future. With so much depending on Rodgers’ future, when can we expect his decision?
Since Green Bay drafted Jordan Love in 2020, Rodgers’ future has been uncertain. Before the 2021 season, Adam Schefter dropped the bomb that Rodgers did not want to return to the Packers, leading to the first season of RodgersWatch.
Rodgers ultimately made amends and came back, earning a league MVP that season. But after another heartbreaking playoff loss in which Rodgers did not have an MVP performance, he expressed a need to take time and evaluate his future.
Rodgers’ predecessor Brett Favre, who sucks, famously held the team hostage with his wavering thoughts on retirement and his disdain towards the front office. Rodgers wanted to avoid putting the team in the same situation, promising to make a decision in a timely manner.
“There will be a decision in the near future. I’m not going to keep a lot of people waiting,” Rodgers expressed after winning his fourth MVP award.
While Rodgers took his time, he was true to his word. On March 8, 2022, just over a week before free agency began, Rodgers announced he would return to the Packers for an 18th season. On March 15, Rodgers signed a contract extension that, on paper, tied him to the team for three more years. In reality, Rodgers’ deal plays out in a yearly fashion, as he expressed a desire to evaluate his future after every season.
Following his worst season as a starter, Rodgers again took time to look to his future. All options seem equally viable right now. Rodgers could return to the Packers for a 19th season, he could retire, or he could ask for a trade to try a final Super Bowl run with a different organization.
What are the best option for Rodgers, the Packers, and the fanbase? No one knows. While Rodgers has been respectful about keeping the team looped in and tries to avoid the stress caused by his predecessor, Green Bay’s decision-making process is stunted until No. 12 makes his ultimate decision. Conversely, no one wants another Favre situation where the quarterback wavers. And no one wants a situation like Tom Brady retiring and un-retiring in one off-season.
Once again, the decision will be made before free agency begins on March 15. The Packers need to know Rodgers’ state to pursue their free-agent acquisition plan and to handle business with their own free agents. Should Rodgers ultimately request a trade, the team will need time to find the right deal before too many dominoes fall.
With the recently released Derek Carr on the market and meeting with teams, quarterback-needy squads are ready to pounce. If Rodgers makes a decision too late, he might find that Carr has taken an appealing job like the one with the New York Jets.
If Rodgers chooses to stay with the Packers, and the Packers want him back, they’ll need Rodgers to prove his worth as a recruiter if they have any hopes of landing key free agents. Rodgers’ return will mean trying one last Super Bowl run, but his current contract is rough on the cap. He’ll have to help convince players to take less money for a chance at a ring.
Last year, Rodgers made his decision roughly a week before free agency began. I’d expect that decision a bit quicker this year. But don’t expect it immediately after he emerges from his darkness retreat either. The conversations between the team and the quarterback will take time, especially if Rodgers wants a trade or the team reworks his contract. Sometime in the first week of March feels right.
This will be a pivotal year for the Green Bay Packers. It’s frustrating to wait when you’re planning for the future, but the good news is that we should get a decision sooner rather than later.
