After all the speculation that his time in Green Bay was over, Aaron Rodgers is staying with the Packers likely until the end of his career.
As first reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport on Tuesday, the two-time reigning NFL MVP signed a four-year, $200 million deal that will keep him in the green and gold until he is 40.
Rodgers is now the highest-paid player in NFL history with this deal in hand as he’ll receive $153 million guaranteed while bringing in a massive average annual salary of $50 million.
It’s a direct contradiction of what Rodgers and the Packers’ relationship has indicated in the past as the two parties feuded last season that put his future in Green Bay in jeopardy.
Now with him back in the fold, the Packers can re-focus on bringing home another Lombardi Trophy after falling well short of expectations this season. Despite nabbing the NFC’s top seed with a 13-4 record, they were bounced from the Divisional Round by the San Francisco 49ers in a 13-10 letdown.
It was hardly the ending that was perceived for Rodgers after he lit the NFL up once again to take home his fourth-ever league MVP award. The 38-year-old threw for 4,115 yards, 37 touchdowns, and four interceptions as he continues to forge a Hall-of-Fame resume despite winning just one Super Bowl title 11 seasons ago.
Over the last five years, Rodgers has completed 65.8% of his passes while posting 17-game averages of 4,478 yards and 36 touchdowns to just four interceptions.
His return should also play a significant role in the decision of star wide receiver Davante Adams, who is a free agent and would be one of the most sought-after playmakers if he were to hit the open market.
The 29-year-old posted a career-best 123 catches for 1,553 yards to go with 11 touchdowns — this after leading the NFL last season with 98.1 receiving yards per game and 18 touchdowns.
