The Bears’ owner is off to New York.
The Packers are finally finalizing a trade of Aaron Rodgers, their Hall of Fame quarterback and Bears nemesis, to the Jets.
ESPN reported Monday the Packers will move up from No. 15 to No. 13 in the first round of Thursday’s draft and receive a second-round pick Friday, a sixth-round pick Saturday and a conditional 2024 second-round pick that would become a first-rounder if Rodgers plays two-thirds of his new team’s snaps in 2023. The Jets will get Rodgers, the No. 15 pick in the draft and a fifth-rounder Saturday.
Speaking to Green Bay reporters Monday afternoon, Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said most of the trade details had been figured out and that “moving forward with compensation in this year’s draft was important to us.”
Rodgers, who once famously claimed that he owned the Bears, leaves the greatest rivalry in the NFL having done just that. He went 25-5 in 30 meetings with the Bears. The Packers have won 13 of their last 14 games against their rivals, too.
The Bears poked fun at the trade Monday afternoon on social media, posting a video of a bear waving goodbye.
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) April 24, 2023
It’s no hyperbole to say that Rodgers leaving the Packers could be as impactful as any addition the Bears have made — or will make — all offseason.
On Dec. 4, Rodgers gave Bears fans a military-style salute as he left Soldier Field.
“You never know when it’s going to be your last time playing at a place,” Rodgers said then. “I’ve had a lot of great moments at this place. As much as the fans don’t really like me, I do have respect for the city of Chicago and their great sports fans here, and this stadium. It’s been a lot of fun over the years to go to battle, win or lose.”
Rodgers had considered retirement this offseason but decided to return after a well-publicized darkness retreat. He quickly set his sights on the Jets, who met with him this offseason and began signing offensive players that would fit their system with the new quarterback. The Jets hired Nathaniel Hackett, Rodgers’ former play-caller, as their offensive coordinator.
Jordan Love, whom the Packers drafted in the first round in 2020, will start in Rodgers’ place.
