I first became interested in football and the NFL when I was seven years old. My next door neighbor, Ethan, was a die-hard Green Bay Packers fan and every time I went over to his house, a game would be playing on the TV. At that age, I was already playing youth soccer and had some interest in sports, so it didn’t take long for me to fall in love with football – and specifically, the Packers.
I personally think it is fortuitous timing, but in the second year I started watching the NFL, the Packers won Super Bowl XLV. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers led the charge and was named Super Bowl Most Valuable Player. From then on, he became my favorite player on the team.
In the years that followed that championship, I have been continually awed and amazed with his play. In my opinion, he is one of the best quarterbacks to have played the game just based on his on-field performances. I don’t have enough time to list out all of his accomplishments, but here are some of the most impressive one: four-time NFL MVP (ranks second in NFL history), four-time First-Team All-Pro, second on the all-time regular season career passer rating list, best touchdown-to-interception ratio in NFL history (475 TDs to only 105 interceptions) and he holds the record for top two single-season passer rating in NFL history (122.5 in 2011 and 121.5 in 2020). Honestly, he has so many achievements, though partly due to his 18-year career, that there is no debate – as soon as he’s eligible, he’ll be getting a gold jacket and red carpet rolled out to Canton.
When news broke on March 15 that Rodgers declared his desire to play for the New York Jets on The Pat McAfee Show, I was shocked. I had heard the rumors and speculation that he wanted out, but I always thought he’d retire as a Packer. As sad as I am that I won’t get to watch him play again in the green and gold, I wish him all the best in New York. I will still root for him and hope to see the Jets have success (I do like rooting for loyal fanbases like the Jets and the Detroit Lions that have stuck behind their historically bad teams). However, I’m honestly more disappointed Green Bay and the front office didn’t do enough to help Rodgers get his second Vince Lombardi Trophy
Leave a Reply