People say things on Twitter. Sometimes they don’t mean them, sometimes they do. So think of this what you will.
Let's do another 12, @packers #LifeInGreenAndGold#NFLDreams https://t.co/oBtfCGOIhA
— Aaron Rodgers (@AaronRodgers12) April 24, 2017
That was Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers responding to something from the team’s account. It pointed out that the Packers drafted Rodgers 12 years ago on April 24.
Rodgers has been talking a lot about prolonging his career recently. He’s previously mentioned that he wants to play until he’s 40.
Rodgers will be 34 in December, so 12 more years will put him at 46.
The only non-kicker to last that long in the league was QB George Blanda, who played until he was 48. Of course, Blanda was also a kicker and didn’t throw many passes after he turned 39 in 1966.
A few other quarterbacks came close — Steve DeBerg, Warren Moon and Vinny Testaverde lasted until they were 44. Of course, all of them finished their careers as backups.
So 46 is pretty unlikely and certainly even more so to remain a starter. In fact, the latter has never been done.
Rodgers surely knows that.
I guess he really likes playing football. If I’ve made bank like Rodgers will have by the time his next contract runs out, I take my $200M+ at age 40 and move on to stage two without a look back.
He is supposed to sign a extension before than.
Well, the NFL is also a lot different than it was too. The NFL goes to great lengths to protect QBs. Look at Brady, I can totally envision him playing into his 40’s. He has been fairly healthy and arguably playing as well as he ever has. I see Rodgers in a similar spot, although he obviously has a few years till he hits 40. I could see Rodgers maybe being more limited physically as far as scrambling and escaping pressure, but he has the skills to be strictly a pocket QB. His arm strength hasn’t diminished in the slightest, and as long as he avoids shoulder injuries, he will be in a better spot than Brees.