Chattanooga Times Free Press

Rodgers’ football future is uncertain

BY STEVE MEGARGEE

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Aaron Rodgers heads into another offseason of uncertainty after one more frustrating finish to a brilliant year on the football field.

The Green Bay Packers’ veteran quarterback drove them to a touchdown on the first series of Saturday’s playoff game at Lambeau Field, then couldn’t get them back in the end zone the rest of the night. The season ended for the NFC’s top-seeded team with a stunning 13-10 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the divisional round.

Robbie Gould’s 45-yard field goal as time expired won the game for the 49ers, who scored 10 unanswered points in the final five minutes.

“A little numb, for sure,” Rodgers said. “I didn’t think it was going to end like this.”

But was this just the end of Rodgers’ season? Or is it the end of his remarkable tenure in Green Bay?

The shocking finish capped a turbulent seven-month stretch in which Rodgers skipped the Packers’ mandatory minicamp and missed a game due to a positive COVID-19 test — after making misleading comments about his vaccination status — but was also an All-Pro first-team selection for the fourth time and put himself in position for a possible fourth NFL MVP award.

Rodgers didn’t want to speculate on his future Saturday night. He said last month that he hadn’t ruled out any possibility, including returning to Green Bay, requesting a trade or retiring.

“I don’t think it’s fair to anybody or myself to really go down those paths at this point,” said Rodgers, who turned 38 last month. “It’s disappointing, sad and fresh. I’ll have conversations in the next week or so and start to contemplate after that.”

Rodgers did say his relationship with general manager Brian Gutekunst improved this season.

He entered Saturday having thrown 20 touchdown passes with no interceptions over the past seven games for the Packers, who had a bye in the opening round of the playoffs. Once again, though, Rodgers wasn’t spectacular in the postseason. He was 20-of29 passing for 225 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions against the 49ers, getting sacked five times while working behind an offensive line missing injured starting tackle David Bakhtiari.

When the Packers had the ball in a tie game in the closing minutes, they went three-and-out and punted, setting up the decisive kick.

“I think Aaron did everything he could,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said. “He was under a lot of duress. I think it’s more to do with I didn’t put our guys in position to make enough plays. I take that very personally.”

A.J. Dillon’s 6-yard run for the Packers at the 9:25 mark of the first quarter was the game’s only offensive touchdown. On the final series of the first half, Rodgers threw a 75-yard pass to Aaron Jones for the longest completion of his playoff career, but the possession ended with the 49ers blocking a 39-yard field-goal attempt.

“Disappointed in the offense; 10 points is obviously not enough,” Rodgers said.

The Packers made Rodgers the No. 24 overall pick of the 2005 draft, and they have been contenders almost every year he has been healthy. However, they haven’t reached the Super Bowl since their 2010 championship season, when Rodgers was MVP of the title win. Now the question is whether he will continue chasing a second championship in a Packers uniform.

“I’m very proud of what I’ve been able to accomplish here,” he said. “Thankful — deeply thankful — for so many years here in the organization and all the incredible teammates and coaches that I’ve had over the years. That’s part of the legacy, I think, the friendships, and the memories on and off the field.

“But I don’t know. I’m still super competitive, still know I can play at a high level, so it’s going to be a tough decision. I have a lot of things to weigh in the coming weeks.”

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