When Tom Brady (again) revealed that he would be retiring, the NFL lost one of its all-time greats.
Brady, meanwhile, isn’t ready for yet another elite passer to join him.
Aaron Rodgers, the quarterback of the Green Bay Packers at the moment, has stated publicly that he will be considering his future while on a “isolation retreat.” This was Brady’s comment about Rodgers’ future during an interview on Sirius XM “Let’s Go!” show:
“You know what, I hope he doesn’t retire,” Brady said during the podcast. “I think the league needs good quarterbacks and he’s one of the greats. If he retires, it’ll be a sad day for the league. He’s an incredible player.”
The 39-year-old Rodgers recently finished his 18th season in the NFL, all of which were spent playing for the Packers. After winning consecutive league Most Valuable Player awards in 2020 and 2021, his performance declined in the 2022 season. Rodgers has been rumored to be tradeable, with the Packers going 8-9, missing the playoffs, and possibly looking to the future. He has acknowledged thinking about retiring during his many public podcast appearances.
“I’m still in the art of contemplation about my future,” Rodgers said Feb. 7 during an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show. “That’s why I think it’s going to be important to get through this week and then to take my isolation retreat and just be able to contemplate all things my future and then make a decision that I feel like is best for me moving forward and the highest interest of my happiness and then move forward.”
Rodgers stated that he had been thinking about the solitude retreat for a number of years and that it would involve “four nights of complete darkness.” On Tuesday, Rodgers announced that the retreat would happen “later this week.”
“Everyone has their different processes they go through,” Brady said of Rodgers’ decision. “And you know what, I think we all need to get off our phone a little bit more. I think we all need to get away from the TV a little bit more. I think we all need a little more nature and a little more silence and a little more peace. However he’s going about it, good for him. Everyone’s got their unique way to process the season. It’s very intense for all of us, and everyone gets to choose what they want to do.”
Despite having a thumb injury, Rodgers managed to throw for 3,695 yards and 64.6% accuracy this season, with 26 touchdowns and only 12 interceptions. He recorded a career-low quarterback rating of 91.1. Brady, 45, made his NFL retirement official on February 1 after 23 seasons and seven Super Bowl victories, three MVP trophies, and 15 Pro Bowl appearances.
