Should Aaron Rodgers hang up his cleats? Another disappointing performance sparks debate on reigning MVP's future
Another week, another underwhelming performance from future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
It's hard to find a more accomplished player in NFL history than the man under center in Green Bay.
Whether it's owning an NFL record, winning the MVP award, or taking home the Lombardi trophy, Rodgers has done it all.
They don't call him the 'Baaaad Man' for no reason.
However, Aaron Rodgers' last handful of performances have been anything but what NFL fans have grown accustomed to from the reigning back-to-back MVP. As a direct result, the Packers are 0-3 through the last three weeks of football - the first time Green Bay has had a losing streak under head coach Matt LaFleur.
The losing streak started when Green Bay faced off against the New York Giants in London. The Packers quarterback threw for 222 yards with two touchdowns, completing 25 passes on 39 attempts.
Not a bad statline by any means.
It wasn't the numbers that were off with Rodgers' performance; it was how he played when all the chips were on the table. Not only did Rodgers lead the Packers to zero points in the fourth quarter, but the offense didn't add a single point through the entire second half.
What started as a 20-10 lead heading into the fourth ended in a 22-27 defeat.
The following two weeks haven't been much different. The All-Pro quarterback has logged a combined three touchdowns and zero interceptions against the New York Jets and Washington Commanders. Meanwhile, he's only been able to score one touchdown in the fourth quarter and has fallen flat in the biggest moments down the stretch.
All of this begs the question - should the Packers' legendary QB call it a career?
How long does Aaron Rodgers plan on playing?
At 38 years old, there's nothing left for Aaron Rodgers to prove. He's not only well past the average retirement age of his position, but has played at an extremely high level for over a decade. Not to mention, he isn't exactly enticed by the thought of playing football in his 40s.
When asked if he planned on playing football at the age of 45, like his fellow NFL constituent Tom Brady, Rodgers responded with three simple words:
"No, I don't."
So, should Aaron Rodgers walk away from the game after this season?
It's important not to get too ahead of ourselves here. The last couple of weeks have looked rough for the 38-year-old, but let's not forget who the most recent winner of the MVP award is.
In fact, you'd have to leave the 2020s to find the last time Aaron Rodgers wasn't the NFL's Most Valuable Player. A month of underwhelming football isn't enough to trump that.
It's also worth mentioning that the four-time first-team All-Pro isn't playing particularly bad football; he just isn't playing his brand of football.
Most quarterbacks would sleep well at night if they had nine touchdowns with only three interceptions to their name. The 66.8 completion percentage (12th) and 94.9 quarterback rating (10th) aren't bad either. It's just not the level we're used to seeing from him.
But are things bad enough to make the 'Baaaad Man' consider retirement?
Rodgers still isn't sure exactly when he'll hang it up, but he does seem to be sure he won't be playing for as long as Brady has. In early June, the Packers' QB1 had stated that he "thinks about retirement all the time" during a golf event with Tom Brady.
However, as it stands, Aaron Rodgers is contractually bound to Green Bay until 2026 after signing a three-year, $150.815 million extension (beginning after the '23 season) this offseason.