Despite Rodgers’ individual praise, the Packers lost to Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at home in the NFC Championship Game to end the 2020 season, continuing Rodgers’ Super Bowl drought since winning the 2010 season. Before that game, Rodgers told reporters that his future with the team was a “beautiful mystery”.
Rodgers missed all of Green Bay’s voluntary practice, and as training camp approached, he and wide receiver Davante Adams posted identical photos of Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen on Instagram, hinting that the upcoming season could be their “last dance” together in green and gold. The Packers voided the final year of Rodgers’ contract, giving him more control and freedom to trade. Adams is expected to receive the Green Bay franchise badge this week.
In July 2021, on the first day of training, Rogers held a 31-minute press conference. For the first time, he explained his frustration. “I just expressed a desire to be more involved in conversations directly related to my work,” he said, adding that he did not believe the organization was using him to help recruit free agents.
“If you can’t commit after 2021 and I’m not in the hiring process as a free agent if I’m not part of the future,” Rodgers said, “instead of letting me be a lame duck quarterback if you If you want to take a risk and move forward, then go ahead and do it.”
Rogers tested positive for the coronavirus in November, months after he told reporters he was “vaccinated” against the disease. The NFL fined him $14,650 for violating protocols for unvaccinated players, including refusing to wear a mask during weekly press conferences and attending a Halloween party.
But as the 2021 season progressed, with Rodgers leading Green Bay to a 13–4 record and a playoff berth, his relationship with Gutekunst and other members of the Packers front office improved to the point that Rodgers said he would need time. to evaluate their next steps after the team’s season ended with a crushing loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the divisional round.
Rodgers’ return solves a major piece of the Packers’ offseason puzzle and forces other teams looking for quarterback promotion to look elsewhere. Faced with salary cap issues and a plethora of unrestricted free agents, Gutekunst can now turn his attention to the free agent market, which opens on March 16th. Rogers’ upcoming deal is expected to free up some ceiling space to allow management to decide contracts with other players. , perhaps the most important – and perhaps not the last – of his contribution to personnel matters.