Aaron Rodgers was crowned reigning back-to-back MVP after having the “best season” of his NFL career thanks to the help of the psychedelic drug ayahuasca, and now he could be targeting a third on the go.
The feat was matched only by his Green Bay predecessor, Brett Favre, and should he achieve a fifth MVP, Rodgers would match the all-time high for the Associated Press award, currently owned by Peyton Manning.
The potential history and records are sentimental, of course, and important ahead of the new season, but it’s the Super Bowl that Rodgers is aiming for more than anything else.
However, with a coveted second Super Bowl win in sight, he’ll need to put in a stellar performance through late January and February to secure the long-awaited shot that could come with his MVP chances.
It’s no secret that the clock is ticking in Rodgers’ career. He’s approaching 39 and with talk of the man himself contemplating retirement, this season could be a last-ditch effort to match Manning and Favre’s records before the sands in his football hourglass run out .
Rodgers hasn’t shied away from retirement talks and it seems his career is going season by season, but he remains committed to that tenure.
Reigning back-to-back MVP Aaron Rodgers is targeting a third jump this season
Rodgers, 38, revealed on the Aubrey Marcus Podcast that his past use of psychedelics improved his mental health and ultimately led him to the “best season” of his NFL career
With each season potentially being his last, he will certainly be focused on giving his all for the campaign and admitted a championship would be the perfect way to end a stellar career.
The Packers quarterback won his second straight AP MVP award after a stellar 2021 season
“I’ve never been someone who wanted some kind of farewell season or anything like that,” Rodgers said during the minicamp.
“I don’t think it’s fair to the mental state at the end of the season and thinking about how you’re feeling.
“If you say I’m sure I’ll play another two, three years and then you have a magical season ending in a championship and you think that’s the best way to drive away, I don’t want me commit to something.
“You say I only play a year and you have a bitter taste in your mouth and you still have the drive and passion to play another year or two, I just don’t want to be pigeonholed. So I’m concentrating on this season.”
Despite all the talk about retirement, you have to look pretty closely to see signs of aging in Rodgers’ game.
He has had a stellar 13-game season with multiple touchdown passes and zero interceptions, breaking his own NFL record of 11 games he set in 2020.
He also had a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 9.25 — the seventh-best in NFL history — beating his own sixth-place finish of 9.60 from the previous year. The ratio means he now owns six of the top 12 seasons of all time.
Despite being nearly 39 years old, the Green Bay star’s game shows few signs of aging
Notably, the 2021 season was the weakest season in terms of MVP wins by Rodgers’ standards.
He recorded 343/502 passes, 68.3 percent completion, 4,643 passing yards, 45 passing TDs, six INTs, 122.5 passer rating – the current NFL record – in 2011 when he first won the award.
Followed by 341/520 passes, 65.6 percent completion, 4,381 passing yards, 38 passing TDs, five INTs, 112.2 passer rating in 2014, and 372/526 passes, 70.7 percent completion, 4,299 passing yards, 48 Passing TDs, five INTs, 121.5 passer rating in 2020.
Rodgers has to adjust to the loss of Davante Adams (right) this season
However, Rodgers finds himself at a slight disadvantage before the start of the season as he adjusts to the loss of Davante Adams in training camp and accounts for the departure of free agent Marquez Valdes-Scantling.
Rodgers himself admitted he was disappointed with Adam’s departure, and it will be interesting to see what impact that could have on the quarterback’s numbers next season.
“I love Davante, so I’d say I was obviously disappointed,” Rodgers admitted.
“I really wish him the best. You know, sometimes you wish people the best and you’re like, “Ehhhhh.” But I really wish Davante the best.
“I love him like a brother and I appreciate everything we have achieved together. (Just) disappointed that we couldn’t finish together.
The star wideout set franchise records for receptions at 123 and 1553 yards in a single season in 2021.
The loss of Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders has led to many reshuffles in the wide receiver room.
The Green Bay Packers traded wide receiver Adams for the Las Vegas Raiders back in March
Although Rodgers has a number of new receivers to bring in, he doesn’t have a choice.
Fourth-year veteran Allen Lazard seems like a safe bet and is expected to take over the WR1 role, while pro-bowler Randall Cobb could also be a reliable option for Rodgers, who could potentially take the WR2 position.
But the development of rookies Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs could change the Packers’ passing game, while Green Bay remain very optimistic about Amari Rodgers’ improvement despite a disappointing rookie season.
Fourth-year veteran Allen Lazard seems like a safe bet and is set to take on the role
Fourth-round Doubs in particular has impressed in training camp, earning rare praise from the man himself.
“Every single day … there was at least one kind of ‘wow’ game for him,” Rodgers told reporters.
“And that’s pretty rare for a young man like him.”
Second-round receiver Watson was sidelined for the entirety of training camp after suffering an off-season knee injury, but cornerback Jaire Alexander also believed he will bounce back once he recovers.
Romeo Doubs has impressed coaches and Rodgers himself at his rookie training camp
Rodger’s unsatisfied and turbulent relationship with general manager Brian Gutekunst must feel like ancient history now, and his frustration with the franchise seems to be behind him.
Though he’s insisted he won’t play a single preseason game, it’s not unusual for Rodgers as he hasn’t snapped a preseason since 2018.
Rodgers also skipped all of Matt LaFleur’s organized team activities that spring, but insisted he was committed to making the head coach’s offense a success.
Rodgers insisted he was committed to making head coach Matt LaFleur’s offense successful
“You just have to have some faith in the organization,” Rodgers said during the minicamp.
“I’m going to put the time in to make it work with these guys and we’re going to find a way to be successful on Matt’s offense – like we’ve always done.
“This year will be no different. We’ll be in the mix.’
Additionally, his new three-year, $150 million contract conveys a renewed commitment to the Packers from Rodgers that could bring out the best in him.
The Packers’ troubles in paradise appear to be over, and if Green Bay can get receivers to follow in Adams’ footsteps, Rodgers could be poised to produce another MVP-worthy season.