It may seem strange to try and rebuild one’s reputation at the end of their career but for Aaron Rodgers, this reclamation process is different. The Pittsburgh Steelers’ quarterback has made it clear that this is it. This season, regardless of how it goes, will be his final one in the National Football League. So why is there such an effort underway to rebuild his image? Perhaps there’s a future in football beyond playing for him.
The Effort is Well Underway
Michael Silver of The Athletic, a longtime NFL writer, has not one, but two articles on Rodgers today. One is a macro-level view about the end of his career and how he has made amends with his parents, the impact of his wife and a different outlook in general. The second article takes a chunk from the first which is entirely about the playoff loss.
Silver goes to great lengths to make sure we all know that Rodgers played last season’s home loss to the Texans while under the weather. Although Rodgers is clear that he “felt better” by gametime, he admitted he was definitely suffering from the flu which included vomiting. It was so bad and so obvious that some believed Rodgers was headed for his “flu game” moment. This was a reference to Michael Jordan’s famous performance in Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals. As you know, that didn’t happen.
Along with his perfectly executed “ice cream shop post” prior to his return, Rodgers has made other moves in his life just as calculating. After years of being estranged from his parents and family, he posted photos of a reunion. There had been earlier hints this was coming but the photos confirmed it.
Rodgers also held his “his last rodeo” bonding event with several teammates out west. Again, the photo release was very calculated and some would say “orchestrated.” Many in Green Bay will tell you he’s always been like this. Others will say this is true, but this is “Rodgers on steroids” one person told me. There is one major question that many are asking. Why is he making such an effort to change the narrative?
The Likely Reason
While the running joke is that Rodgers’ wife may in fact be the same woman Manti T’eo claimed was his “girlfriend,” he claims she has been incredibly important in his life. Prior to this mystery woman, Rodgers had relationships with more famous women like Danica Patrick, Olivia Munn and Shailene Woodley. Those all reportedly ended poorly.
But Rodgers also took a lot of bullets for his outspoken comments about the Covid-19 vaccine. He even flirted with running for political office. Then of course there was the ayahuasca use and “darkness” retreats. For some, these weren’t big deals but it sure seemed the majority found his comments and overall behavior to be outside the norm.
What often gets lost in all of the above is that Rodgers is an incredibly bright person. His ability to process information pre and post snap has always been remarkable. That same mental acuity has been used in his media appearances and within his relationships. In other words, this guy has a lot of knowledge, especially about football. Rodgers would be coveted by the major networks as a game analyst. His ability to break down plays and situations would be as good as any currently in the industry.
Outside of that, the only other reason for the reclamation would perhaps be a run for office. Don’t laugh either. Rodgers claims to dislike the attention as an NFL quarterback but at the same time, he can’t live without it. Politicians are the exact same way.
Whatever this is about, it has clearly been planned out and is now being executed. Personally, I don’t care. He’s the QB of the team I love and I want him to play well. If rebuilding his image helps him do that than bring it on.
