Aaron Rodgers took a great path after pulling off his long-awaited trade with the New York Jets on Monday.
The now-former Green Bay Packers quarterback posted a lengthy farewell letter on Instagram Tuesday, thanking the Packers organization and fans after 18 years, along with photos documenting his journey from draft pick to four-time MVP.
He ended the message by saying that he would see Green Bay again and would always feel connected to the city:
“This is not the end for us, I will see you again in Green Bay, you will always have my heart.”
Rodgers mentioned 40 different people in his departure, including former general manager Ted Thompson, former head coach Mike McCarthy, current head coach Matt LaFleur and several members of the coaching staff, training staff and PR team. As Rogers has done in the past, many are referred to by nicknames.
The 39-year-old quarterback also called out current Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst, with whom he is rumored to have feuded in recent years. No current or former Packers players are mentioned by name, instead Rodgers thanks them all.
One of Rodgers’ best friends on the Packers, left tackle David Bakhtiari, posted his goodbye just hours before the Nickelback musical was completed.
Rodgers’ goodbye is a nice gesture given how fragile his time in Green Bay was in his later years and how long his exit took. After multiple offseasons of retirement and trade speculation (including an actual trade demand in 2021), Rodgers announced on March 15 that he planned to play for the Jets next season. It took more than a month for the Packers and Jets to actually make a deal.
The end result is that Rodgers is going to New York in exchange for a first-round pick, a second-round pick and a sixth-round pick in 2023, plus a second-round pick in 2024 that if Rodgers becomes a first-rounder players 65% of the Jets’ offensive snaps next season. The Jets also receive a fifth-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, which begins Thursday.
Rodgers joins the Jets team with enormous expectations. The franchise went 7-10 last season and looked competent at times despite ranking last in the NFL in passer rating, and is now adding the second-most efficient quarterback in NFL history by that same metric.
Aaron Rodgers’ Complete Farewell to the Packers
I’m not sure I can express my gratitude enough to the @packers, our amazing fans, the state of Wisconsin, the thousands of players I’ve crossed paths with, the incredible men and women who work for the organization, and the amazing people I’ve met along the way. , in one post with 10 pictures, but I hope you read this and feel my heart and soul, full of love, joy and peace about my time in green and gold. 💚💛
I grew up in Green Bay, got drafted at 21, fell in love with the game, met some lifelong friends and took with me memories that will last a lifetime.
I am thankful for my head coaches, especially the late Ted Thompson for drafting me for 13 years with Mike McCarthy and the last 4 years with Matt LaFleur. I have had some amazing men to work with in the QB room over the years including Tom, AVP, Luke and Connor.
Many thanks to my friends in the equipment room, Red, Tbone, Odia, Kev, Brian, Andy Gruber, all my dear friends in the training room over the years, Nate, Flea, Doc McKenzie, Doc Gray, Pep and Cuz. the legendary Adam Korzun and his amazing staff; Dougie, Crabby, and Scotty, for always looking out for me; Tom, Nate, Sarah, and Jason in PR, Evan, Film, The Rock and Wayne, for putting words to my career highlights, Gray and Big Rob for your work with our friends over the years, Block, Thad, Grant and the guys in the weight room, Bob Harlan, Russ Ball, Mark Murphy, and Brian Gutekunst for your stewardship of the organization, everyone on the 3rd and 4th floors who make that building run smoothly, and countless others on the loading dock, tours, concessions, maintenance, our field crew, etc.
To the fans, thank you, you make every run out of the tunnel special, every home game magical, and it’s an honor to be your QB.
To my teammates, I love you all, and am grateful for the moments on and off the field that brought us closer. I played with legends, I played with friends; Thank you for believing in me and always having my back ❤️
This is not the end for us, I will see you again Green Bay, you will always have my heart ❤️
#thankyou #18years #💚💛
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