Aaron Rodgers Fuels NFL Retirement Rumors With Cryptic Instagram Post
Will Rodgers stay with Green Bay, quarterback a new team, or hang up his helmet for good?
Tom Brady may not be the only legacy quarterback who threw their final NFL pass last season—at least according to amateur sleuths analyzing Aaron Rodgers’ latest Instagram post.
Rumors of Rodgers’ imminent retirement are swirling (again) after the 38-year-old Green Bay Packers QB posted a lengthy message to Instagram thanking everyone from his former fiancee, actress Shailene Woodley, to his teammates and fans.
The Mauritanian star was the first subject of a lengthy caption accompanying a collage of on- and off-field photos.
“@shailenewoodley, thanks for letting me chase after you the first couple months after we met, and finally letting me catch up to you and be a part of your life” Rodgers wrote. “Thanks for always having my back, for the incredible kindness you show me and everyone you meet, and for showing me what unconditional love looks like, I love you and am grateful for you.”
” To the men I got to share the QB room with everyday, Matt, Nathaniel, Luke, @jordan3love and @kurtbenkert , you guys made every day so much fun and I’m so thankful for the daily laughs and stress relief you brought me every week of the year. I love you guys,” Rodgers continued.
“To the Friday Crew, @aiydacobb , @rcobb18 , @frankieshebby , and @davidbakhtiari, I loved every moment we got to spend together this year. Your love and support was overwhelming, and I cherish the friendships I have with each of you.”
“To my teammates, past and current, you are the icing on the beautiful cake we call our job; football. the friendships that we have will transcend our collective time in this game and I am so thankful for the role that each of you have played in making my life that much better. I love you guys, and cherish the memories we’ve made.”
“To everyone else,” Rodgers concluded, “spread love and gratitude you beautiful people, and read a book once in a while too while you’re at it. Love and peace.”
Rodgers didn’t mention retirement anywhere in the post, which reads like a possible career’s end reflection. But he also didn’t say anything about a future on the gridiron, leading many Twitter users seen by BroBible to believe Rodgers will hang up his helmet.
If not a retirement, Rodgers may leave Green Bay for a new franchise, making his Next Team Odds at MaximBet especially pertinent. The Denver Broncos (+200), Pittsburgh Steelers (+600) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+600) are the current frontrunners—click here to see the latest odds at MaximBet.
The New York Post reports that Rodgers had previously said “everything is on the table” following the Packers’ playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Staying in Green Bay, helming a new team or retirement are all possibilities.
“The most important thing is first the commitment to playing – and going into the offseason and training,” Rodgers said on a recent episode of The Pat McAfee Show podcast.”
“And after that it’s conversations with my agent and [Packers GM Brian Gutekunst] and looking at the desires of the team and the mindset moving forward and make a decision from there.”