After many, many months of rumors (and drama) surrounding quarterback Aaron Rodgers' future, he is staying put in Green Bay. On Tuesday, Rodgers and the Packers agreed to a 4-year, $200M deal with $153 million guaranteed for the 38-year-old QB.
Rodgers will be 42 when the deal is up, but we know quarterbacks have stayed at the top of their game even past that age (see: Tom Brady winning with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at age 43.) Rodgers did not give many hints about his decision before this, except that one cryptic Instagram post where he reflected on his time with the Packers.
With the QB agreeing to the massive deal, players around the league, as well as fans, reacted to the news:
Aaron Rodgers has had 4 straight seasons of 4,000 Pass yards, 25 Pass TD and 5 or fewer INT (and 5 seasons in his career).
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) March 8, 2022
All other QBs in NFL history have 3 such seasons COMBINED. pic.twitter.com/LQWia6X710
Dez Bryant reacted to the news by bringing up Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray, saying he deserves to get paid, too.
Make sure Kyler Murray get 300 million with no criticism
— Dez Bryant (@DezBryant) March 8, 2022
Bryant added that, "The Cardinals need Murray just as much Packers need Rodgers."
The cardinals need Murray just as much packers need Rodgers https://t.co/6c00ABoNJR
— Dez Bryant (@DezBryant) March 8, 2022
One of these things is not like the other.
Current state of the NFC North pic.twitter.com/uJdqEjh5jL
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) March 8, 2022
What is Jordan Love thinking right now? RGIII says he should be traded.
The Packers signing Aaron Rodgers to an extension is a clear indication they didn’t expect him to play this good for this long when they drafted Jordan Love 2 years ago. Now they need to trade Jordan Love.
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) March 8, 2022
The Packers traded up to get Love, but haven't needed him much since ...
Packers management to Jordan Love after giving Aaron Rodgers a new $200 million dealpic.twitter.com/BNlJUIhmDk
— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) March 8, 2022
Together, Jordan Love and I have 36 completions in the NFL.
Reminder: Packers traded up to select Jordan Love in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) March 8, 2022
Through two seasons, Love has 36 completions and 411 YDS for Green Bay. pic.twitter.com/o1rXUfvmei
Players are giving No. 12 props for getting such a big contract.
Well lewwk ahht chuuu @AaronRodgers12
— David Bakhtiari (@DavidBakhtiari) March 8, 2022
Others are asking why Rodgers played "all those games" with the Packers and their fans, suggesting he maybe didn't get enough hugs as a kid (which is a possible reference to Rodgers' interesting relationship with family members).
BREAKING NEWS: Rodgers was ALWAYS going to get an enormous contract. In GB, DEN, wherever, he was ALWAYS going to get it. He didn’t need to do this for money. The contract was inevitable. Why he played all the games? I don’t know…maybe he didn’t enough hugs as a kid….
— Tyler Polumbus (@Tyler_Polumbus) March 8, 2022