“Most of the teams that I’ve spoke with believe Aaron Rodgers is going back to the Packers” ~@RapSheet#PMSLive pic.twitter.com/27JZ2NCseW
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at McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) March 4, 2022
Everyone in Indianapolis at the NFL Scouting Combine appears to be hearing the same thing: Aaron Rodgers is expected to return to the Green Bay Packers, although nothing is official. Yet.
On “The Pat McAfee Show” on Friday, NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport said “most of the teams” and “most everyone” in the NFL believes Rodgers will return to the Packers for the 2022 season.
It’s clear a consensus has formed around the league at the combine.
Earlier this week, Mike Jones of USA TODAY reported that the team has “optimism” and a “sense of confidence” in Rodgers returning. Jeff Howe of The Athletic echoed Rapoport, saying there’s a “widespread belief” around the NFL that Rodgers will return.
Rapoport did say he’s not in a position to report that Rodgers will return. The Packers might be negotiating a new deal in case Rodgers does return, but everyone in the football world is still anxiously awaiting his decision.
Rodgers is taking time away from the game to decide his future. He can return to the Packers, retire from the NFL or request a trade out of Green Bay.
Returning to the Packers would mean playing an 18th season in Green Bay and another opportunity to chase a Super Bowl for the team that drafted him in 2005. A trade out of Green Bay would provide the veteran quarterback with a fresh start elsewhere and a bunch of high draft picks for the Packers. Retirement is possible if Rodgers, who turns 39 in December, wants to move on to the next phase in his personal life.
Rodgers threw 37 touchdown passes and only four interceptions in 2021. He won his second straight NFL MVP and fourth overall. He also led the Packers to 13 regular-season wins for the third straight season, but Green Bay fell short in the playoffs. Rodgers and the Packers haven’t been to the Super Bowl since winning Super Bowl XLV in February of 2011.