AP Photo/Aaron Gash
The biggest domino of the NFL off-season has officially fallen.
On Tuesday, reports broke that Rodgers would be returning to the Green Bay Packers after months of questions surrounding the two-time reigning MVP's future.
Pat McAfee, a former player-turned-commentator who hosts Rodgers regularly on his radio program, "The Pat McAfee Show," was the first to report Rodgers' return to Green Bay.
—????️at McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) March 8, 2022
Minutes after McAfee's tweet, NFL Network's Ian Rapaport reported that Aaron Rodgers would be returning to Green Bay on a monstrous four-year, $200 million extension that included $153 million in guaranteed money.
—Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 8, 2022
Despite Rapaport's report of the record-setting deal, McAfee insisted that Rapaport's reported numbers were incorrect.
"Categorically false," McAfee said of the potential $200 million extension. "Wrong."
Matt Schneidman, who covers the Packers for The Athletic, also said that the details of Rodgers' extension were not yet official.
—Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) March 8, 2022
Tuesday afternoon, Rodgers confirmed the news himself on Twitter.
—Aaron Rodgers (@AaronRodgers12) March 8, 2022
Rodgers had hinted at potentially leaving the Packers after the 2021 season, and tensions between star and team were high enough in the 2021 off-season that it felt possible that 2022 would be his last in Green Bay.
According to Rapaport, both retirement and a jump to the Broncos were options on the table for Rodgers, but he ultimately decided to remain with the Packers.
—Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 8, 2022
If Rapaport's numbers prove correct, the deal would make Rodgers the highest-paid player in NFL history by average annual value, with the two-time reigning MVP earning $50 million per year for his services.
The previous highest-paid player in the league was Patrick Mahomes, whose record-setting extension two years ago pushed him to $45 million AAV.
But even if Rodgers comes back at a different number for the Packers, the knowledge that Rodgers is back under center gives the Packers the ability to start planning for the 2022 season in full force.
One of the biggest moves accompanying Rodgers' extension is expected to be franchise tagging wide receiver Davante Adams, securing that one of the most dangerous offensive duos in the NFL will once again be suiting up together.
