While the selection of Jordan Love in the first round of the 2020 draft complicates the path forward, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers remains committed to doing everything in his power to play into his 40s.
During a conference call with reporters last month, Rodgers admitted “new factors” are now “out of his control” and finishing his career with the Packers – the team that drafted him in 2005 – “may not be a reality at this point,” but his goal of playing into his 40s remains unchanged.
“I respect (the Packers looking out for the future), at the same time I still believe in myself and I have a strong desire to play into my 40s,” Rodgers said.
Rodgers, who turned 36 last December, said he feels “really good” physically this offseason. He suffered a significant collarbone injury in 2017 and dealt with a season-long knee issue in 2018, but the future Hall of Famer played in all 18 games, including the playoffs, without a notable injury issue in 2019.
His current contract would keep him in Green Bay through his 40th birthday, but the succession timeline sure looks different now that the Packers traded up to pick Love.
Rodgers wants to make the future decision at quarterback a “very hard one” for the Packers, but he understands he needs to keep his body right – particularly his legs, which allow him to play his unique style – to continue playing at a high level and hold off Love for as long as possible.
“When the legs go, it’s just tough to play, especially the way that I like to play,” Rodgers said.
While adding Love to the mix adds unavoidable motivation for the two-time MVP, playing at a high level consistently continues to drive Rodgers, who believes he’s found ways to keep himself in “peak performance shape.”
“I know the key is my physical body. That’s what I focus on,” Rodgers said. “That’s really my motivation is to give myself physically the opportunity to play as long as I want to play. That’s going to be my continued motivation.”
Rodgers admitted playing elsewhere is a possibility, especially if he can still play his way and his body feels good and the Packers want to transition to Love, the talented but raw passer who GM Brian Gutekunst traded up to get in the first round of April’s draft.
Whether it’s in Green Bay or some other NFL city, Rodgers still wants to be on a field and playing quarterback when he’s 40, a playing age reached by other top quarterbacks such as Brett Favre, Tom Brady and Drew Brees.
Favre, the quarterback Rodgers replaced in Green Bay, left the Packers at age 38 but still played three more NFL seasons. Brady and Brees both held off challenges from young backups, but even Brady – who turns 43 in August – departed New England this offseason.
Rodgers will either keep Love on the bench and play in Green Bay through the 2023 season, leave the Packers at some point in the near future and play elsewhere, or retire – either by choice or otherwise – before he accomplishes his goal.
“The goal is, obviously, to play into my 40s. That hasn’t changed,” Rodgers said. “That’s what I’ve been talking about for the last few years. That remains the same.”