Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers revealed what kept him motivated to win two NFL MVP awards after the 2019 season.
The Green Bay Packers fanbase is wondering whether Aaron Rodgers or Jordan Love will be their starting quarterback heading into the 2023 season. Rodgers is currently contemplating what he wants to do for the upcoming season, whether it’s continue to play in Green Bay, request a trade to a new team, or retire. Rodgers didn’t have a definitive update during his appearance on the “Aubrey Marcus Podcast,” but said that a decision will come “soon enough.”
During that very appearance, Rodgers spoke about the 2019 season, his first with head coach Matt LaFleur, saying that he felt like a “game manager.” But then, he brought up that since the team drafted Love in the first-round of the 2020 NFL Draft, he then went on to win two consecutive NFL MVP awards.
Aaron Rodgers reveals doubt is what motivates him
“I’ve been doubted before,” Rodgers said, h/t Audacy. “Honestly, I felt in the first year that Matt was here — in ’19 — I felt at times like a game manager. I didn’t quite understand at times what we were doing on offense. My job is take care of the football, and I did. I threw four interceptions and 26 touchdowns, and we went 13-3, but I felt like there was so much more.”
“Then, they drafted my replacement, and then I won MVP twice. I threw 85 touchdowns and nine interceptions in two years. Obviously, there were changes that happened on the [this year’s] team and the coaching staff, and I didn’t have my best year playing, and there’s probably people who think I’m done. I thought I was done before I became MVP twice. There would be plenty of inspiration down that road.”
That 2019 season, Rodgers threw for 4,002 yards and completed 62.0-percent of his passes, and the Packers did win the NFC North and make it all the way to the Conference Championship Game, but they were defeated 37-20 by the San Francisco 49ers.
Sure enough, the Packers moved up in the first-round of the NFL Draft to select Love, which came as a shock at the time, considering Rodgers was still on the team. As Rodgers mentions, he won the NFL MVP award in the 2020 and 2021 seasons.
This past season was a down year for Rodgers, as compared to his past two campaigns. The team didn’t have star wide receiver Davante Adams as part of the passing game, while drafting two young wideouts in Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs. While Rodgers and the Packers went on a late run, they fell just short of a playoff berth after their 20-16 loss to the Detroit Lions in Week 18.
The NFL league year officially begins on March 15, and Rodgers will be the biggest quarterback domino to fall. Rodgers did say that he wants to make his decision soon so that he doesn’t “drag anybody around.” From there, the question will be if he wants to remain with the Packers, play with a new team, or decide to retire from the NFL.
