While the Green Bay Packers and the rest of the football world patiently await a decision from Aaron Rodgers, a consensus prediction on his immediate future has formed around the NFL.
According to Jeff Howe of The Athletic, there is a “widespread belief” among NFL teams that Rodgers will return to Green Bay for the 2022 season.
Rodgers, 38, can return to the Packers for an 18th season, retire from football altogether or request a trade out of Green Bay. On the trade front, interested teams aren’t confident a deal will gain traction this year.
“Teams have inquired about his availability, but they don’t believe a trade will ultimately happen this offseason,” Howe reported.
If a trade isn’t in the cards, Rodgers’ remaining options are returning or retiring.
Retirement shouldn’t be taken lightly as an option. Rodgers contemplated walking away from the game last summer, and he has interests outside of football that could lure him away. He’s won a Super Bowl and four NFL MVPs, so his legacy is secure.
But Rodgers is also coming off one of the best two-year stretches of his career and a retirement following a stunning playoff loss in January would feel premature for a player of his caliber. Dating back to 2020, he’s thrown 85 touchdown passes and just nine interceptions over 32 regular-season games and won NFL MVP in both 2020 and 2021.
The Packers are doing everything in their power to facilitate Rodgers’ return. The team hired former Packers assistant Tom Clements as quarterbacks coach and is working with Rodgers’ representatives on a new deal. The plan is to work the salary cap so the Packers can retain All-Pro receiver Davante Adams and put together a competitive roster around Rodgers for 2022.
General manager Brian Gutekunst provided no update on Tuesday. A day later, coach Matt LaFleur said he has been in constant contact with Rodgers, but both reiterated a desire to give the quarterback the space and time he needs to make a decision on his future.
Mike Jones of USA TODAY reported on Wednesday that there’s a “sense of confidence” and “optimism” from the team in Rodgers returning to Green Bay, matching Howe’s reporting from the NFL Scouting Combine.
After a long year of speculation, nothing Rodgers could do in terms of his future would be truly shocking. But at this point in the process, it’s clear one scenario is becoming the most likely: A return to the Packers, and Rodgers taking another shot at getting Green Bay back to the Super Bowl.
