Aaron Rodgers, Packers agree to four-year deal as QB becomes highest-paid player in NFL history
Rodgers agreed to a four-year deal with the Packers worth $200 million
Aaron Rodgers will be back with the Green Bay Packers in 2022 — and potentially beyond. The reigning NFL MVP agreed to a four-year, $200 million extension with the Packers that will make him the highest-paid player in NFL history with a $50 million average annual salary, CBS Sports NFL Insiders Jason La Canfora and Jonathan Jones confirmed.
Rodgers will receive $153 million guaranteed as part of the extension, NFL Network reported, creating significant amounts of salary cap space available for the Packers (approximately $21 million). Rodgers considered retirement and potentially a trade to the Denver Broncos or another team as other options, but this commitment to the Packers suggests the team’s all-time passing touchdowns leader will finish his career in Green Bay.
Rodgers posted on social media that while he will be back with the Packers, the reported terms of his deal are inaccurate.
The Packers have made sure Rodgers decided to remain in Green Bay by bringing back Tom Clements out of retirement to be his quarterback coach once again, franchise tagging Davante Adams, and seeking Rodgers’ input in certain personnel decisions. La Canfora also reported the four-year deal for Rodgers was instituted for salary cap purposes, and Rodgers can decide year-to-year if he wants to continue playing — adding he doesn’t expect the 38-year-old quarterback to play four more seasons.
Rodgers won his fourth MVP award this past season, trailing only Peyton Manning for the most in NFL history (five). He’s the first player to win consecutive MVPs since Manning in 2008 and 2009 and the fifth player in league history to win the award in consecutive years. He’ll become the first Packers quarterback to play 18 seasons with the franchise, already surpassing Brett Favre’s and Bart Starr’s record of 16 this past season (2021 was Rodgers’ 17th year with Green Bay).
What Rodgers has accomplished over the past three seasons has arguably been one of the best three-year stretches for a quarterback in NFL history. Rodgers has completed 67.1% of his passes for 12,416 yards with 111 touchdowns to just 13 interceptions for a 109.2 passer rating. Rodgers has thrown 85 touchdown passes to nine interceptions since the start of the 2020 season with a 116.7 passer rating, all first in the NFL.
Rodgers had an historic 2021 season in capturing MVP honors, completing 68.9% of his passes for 4,115 yards with 37 touchdowns to just four interceptions for a 111.9 passer rating. He led the NFL in touchdown percentage (7.0), interception percentage (0.8), and passer rating. He’s the second-oldest player to win the MVP award and his 13 games with multiple passing touchdown and zero interceptions are the most in a season in NFL history.
Rodgers has thrown for 55,360 yards and 449 touchdowns to just 93 interceptions in his career (104.5 passer rating). He’s the only player with over 400 touchdown passes and fewer than 100 interceptions, ranking fifth all-time in touchdown passes, 10th in passing yards, and second in passer rating.
The Packers got Rodgers back in the fold for the 2022 season. Their championship window remains intact, centered around the pursuit of getting Rodgers his second Super Bowl title.