'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Aaron Rodgers was put on a clear timetable by the Green Bay Packers the moment the team drafted Jordan Love in 2020. The franchise put a succession plan in place at a time when it seemed like Rodgers was still playing at a high level.
Rodgers won the NFL MVP award last season and is on pace to do the same again this year. But he is 38 years old and mulling over his NFL future, as per Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette
"I'm just enjoying this season for this season, and playing next year will definitely be in the thought process," Rodgers said.
Rodgers is not committed to playing next season, and it's possible that is because of all the uncertainty about where he stands with the Packers. Yet he made it clear that his relationship with GM Brian Gutekunst is not as bad as it may have seemed in the recent past.
A fractured relationship with Gutekunst is what put Rodgers' Green Bay future in doubt in the first place. Winning yet another NFL MVP award may be enough for both sides to decide that staying together is for the best.
Aaron Rodgers still deciding his NFL future
Tom Brady playing at a high level until the age of 44 has totally changed the concept of how long quarterbacks can play. Yet Rodgers retiring at the age of 38 would not be seen as some drastic early retirement.
The last thing fans want is for him to retire and then regret the decision, as Brett Favre did once he was replaced by Rodgers. The current Packers star said he isn't going to drag out this process once the offseason arrives.
This strategy would be best for him and the Packers organization to avoid a situation similar to the one that happened with Favre. If Rodgers wants to play elsewhere, both sides can split early in the year so he has time to find a new team. If he wants to stay, an early decision will allow continued stability in the organization.
Rodgers is not ruling out retirement, which should be notable. That means 2021 could not only be his final ride in Green Bay, but in the NFL in general. Winning the Super Bowl for a second time could mean Rodgers decides to go out on top.
