Aaron Rodgers is controversial $380 million newsmaker NFL fans love to hate but will never replace
Aaron Rodgers will always be one of the greatest draft stories in NFL history. The future Hall of Famer painfully waited and waited, just to hear his name called on live national television. GettyAaron Rodgers has been making NFL news for 20 years[/caption] The former junior college star was then forced to waste the initial three years of his pro career waiting on Brett Favre to finally make a decision. In the daily chaos of 2025, NFL fans across the globe are waiting on Rodgers to make another decision – again. “My dream of all of Minnesota cheering for Aaron Rodgers is dead,” tweeted one fan, after Rodgers to the Vikings was seemingly ruled out on Wednesday. A-Rod as a proud Steeler? “I ain’t doing that darkness retreat. I don’t need any of that crap,” veteran Pittsburgh defender Cam Heyward said on his podcast. “Either you want to be a Pittsburgh Steeler or you don’t.” Rodgers getting released by the horrible New York Jets, to then be signed by the even more horrible cross-town Giants would be peak 2025. But how many fans actually care about Rodgers at this moment in NFL history, even though he’s collected $380 million in career earnings? And how much of the Green Bay Luke Skywalker is left in that super-scary Darth Vader version of Rodgers that blew up the Jets? “Rogers is a washed, toxic diva,” posted one fan, after the Vikings reportedly went all-in on second-year QB J.J. McCarthy, who still hasn’t played an NFL snap. Rodgers has won four MVPs but his best years were in Green BayGetty Images - Getty Rodgers had to smile when he was surrounded by NFL greatsGetty Images - Getty GettyRodgers supported Danica Patrick at the Daytona 500 in 2018[/caption] It’s hard to dispute the ‘diva’ bit. The only ‘Enigma’ about Netflix’s absurd mini-series on Rodgers is who actually thought it was a great idea to green light a TV mini-series about a 41-year-old who’s gone 6-12 since he decided he was too good for Green Bay. But here’s another fact about Rodgers, even though it’s hard to remember among all the internet conspiracy theories and ayahuasca trips. We’re going to miss the No. 24 overall pick of the 2005 draft when he’s gone. There was no one else in the world like Rodgers in 2020, when he was completing 70.7 percent of his passes and throwing 48 touchdowns, during a time when 99 percent of the globe was masked up and stuck inside. For better and worse, there’s no one else like Rodgers in the NFL in 2025. He’s a quote machine – when he speaks. He’s instantly polarizing. He’s controversial, opinionated, open-minded, diverse and unorthodox. If Tom Brady is unbearably mundane and cookie-cutter in the TV booth, Rodgers is the exact opposite in real life. Even if you hate everything about him and never want to hear his name again. Throw in the fact that the once-brilliant QB could turn Mike Tomlin’s Steelers into an AFC contender in 2025, and it’s no coincidence that the NFL has once again become completely dependent on Rodgers for daily news and rumors, four years after he first threatened to retire from the Packers. “Aaron Rodgers leaves Oregon facility, ends darkness retreat,” was a real headline. Again: Who else is going to create such spectacular NFL content when Rodgers walks off into the football darkness for the last time? No one. Patrick Mahomes is the next Brady, but there’s very little that’s super juicy or particularly fascinating about the QB who built a dynasty in Kansas City. Jalen Hurts seems like a good, down-to-earth guy – which means he’s also a boring Super Bowl champion. Josh Allen has $330 million and Hailee Steinfeld, but he grew up on a pistachio farm and plays in Buffalo. Lamar Jackson has two MVPs, but no one asks him about Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Danica Patrick or Blu of Earth. Sports TV talk shows across America will struggle without having Rodgers to psycho-analzye morning after morning. GettyThe 2005 NFL Draft helped define Rodgers’ career[/caption] He’s since branched out into bigger things NFL social media won’t be the same without Rodgers-inspired doom scrolling. Heck, while everyone else was showering Travis Kelce with love during peak Taylor Swift-mania, Rodgers called him ‘Mr. Pfizer’ and challenged No. 87 for the Kansas City Chiefs to an old-school duel. Someone always has to be the bad guy. Rodgers trashed his green jersey years ago, draped himself in all black, and is now willing to sell his services to the highest bidder for one more shot to prove everyone wrong. Hate him all you want — he’s surely used to it. But Rodgers has spent the last 20 years helping turn the NFL into the biggest sport in America. Once he’s gone, he won’t be replaced. And Rodgers definitely won’t be forgotten. Especially if the mysterious man with 62,952 career yards and 503 TDs waits u

Aaron Rodgers will always be one of the greatest draft stories in NFL history.
The future Hall of Famer painfully waited and waited, just to hear his name called on live national television.
The former junior college star was then forced to waste the initial three years of his pro career waiting on Brett Favre to finally make a decision.
In the daily chaos of 2025, NFL fans across the globe are waiting on Rodgers to make another decision – again.
“My dream of all of Minnesota cheering for Aaron Rodgers is dead,” tweeted one fan, after Rodgers to the Vikings was seemingly ruled out on Wednesday.
A-Rod as a proud Steeler?
“I ain’t doing that darkness retreat. I don’t need any of that crap,” veteran Pittsburgh defender Cam Heyward said on his podcast.
“Either you want to be a Pittsburgh Steeler or you don’t.”
Rodgers getting released by the horrible New York Jets, to then be signed by the even more horrible cross-town Giants would be peak 2025.
But how many fans actually care about Rodgers at this moment in NFL history, even though he’s collected $380 million in career earnings?
And how much of the Green Bay Luke Skywalker is left in that super-scary Darth Vader version of Rodgers that blew up the Jets?
“Rogers is a washed, toxic diva,” posted one fan, after the Vikings reportedly went all-in on second-year QB J.J. McCarthy, who still hasn’t played an NFL snap.
It’s hard to dispute the ‘diva’ bit.
The only ‘Enigma’ about Netflix’s absurd mini-series on Rodgers is who actually thought it was a great idea to green light a TV mini-series about a 41-year-old who’s gone 6-12 since he decided he was too good for Green Bay.
But here’s another fact about Rodgers, even though it’s hard to remember among all the internet conspiracy theories and ayahuasca trips.
We’re going to miss the No. 24 overall pick of the 2005 draft when he’s gone.
There was no one else in the world like Rodgers in 2020, when he was completing 70.7 percent of his passes and throwing 48 touchdowns, during a time when 99 percent of the globe was masked up and stuck inside.
For better and worse, there’s no one else like Rodgers in the NFL in 2025.
He’s a quote machine – when he speaks.
He’s instantly polarizing.
He’s controversial, opinionated, open-minded, diverse and unorthodox.
If Tom Brady is unbearably mundane and cookie-cutter in the TV booth, Rodgers is the exact opposite in real life.
Even if you hate everything about him and never want to hear his name again.
Throw in the fact that the once-brilliant QB could turn Mike Tomlin’s Steelers into an AFC contender in 2025, and it’s no coincidence that the NFL has once again become completely dependent on Rodgers for daily news and rumors, four years after he first threatened to retire from the Packers.
“Aaron Rodgers leaves Oregon facility, ends darkness retreat,” was a real headline.
Again: Who else is going to create such spectacular NFL content when Rodgers walks off into the football darkness for the last time?
No one.
Patrick Mahomes is the next Brady, but there’s very little that’s super juicy or particularly fascinating about the QB who built a dynasty in Kansas City.
Jalen Hurts seems like a good, down-to-earth guy – which means he’s also a boring Super Bowl champion.
Josh Allen has $330 million and Hailee Steinfeld, but he grew up on a pistachio farm and plays in Buffalo.
Lamar Jackson has two MVPs, but no one asks him about Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Danica Patrick or Blu of Earth.
Sports TV talk shows across America will struggle without having Rodgers to psycho-analzye morning after morning.
NFL social media won’t be the same without Rodgers-inspired doom scrolling.
Heck, while everyone else was showering Travis Kelce with love during peak Taylor Swift-mania, Rodgers called him ‘Mr. Pfizer’ and challenged No. 87 for the Kansas City Chiefs to an old-school duel.
Someone always has to be the bad guy.
Rodgers trashed his green jersey years ago, draped himself in all black, and is now willing to sell his services to the highest bidder for one more shot to prove everyone wrong.
Hate him all you want — he’s surely used to it.
But Rodgers has spent the last 20 years helping turn the NFL into the biggest sport in America.
Once he’s gone, he won’t be replaced.
And Rodgers definitely won’t be forgotten.
Especially if the mysterious man with 62,952 career yards and 503 TDs waits until after the NFL Draft to choose his next temporary football home.
Stay up to date with the latest from across the NFL via our talkSPORT Facebook page, and subscribe to our Endzone YouTube channel for news, views and exclusive interviews as we build up to the NFL Draft.