30, 2018 — one day after Aaron Rodgers signed a record contract extension worth $134 million with the Green Bay Packers that ran through the 2023 season.
Rodgers has become so disgruntled with the team, as first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter and confirmed by multiple media outlets, he’s told some in the organization he won’t play for the Packers again.
Now, coming off an MVP season — the third of his career — the balance of power has seemingly shifted back to Rodgers, who had this to say on the day his extension was announced: “I want to go out and prove that I’m still an elite player in this league, and if I do that then I’ll feel good.
April 18, 2019: The Packers host Missouri quarterback Drew Lock, one of the top prospects in the 2019 draft, on a pre-draft visit.
Rodgers hates them and says after the second session: “I wouldn’t mind if they didn’t do it for another 14 years.” Shortly before that, first-year coach Matt LaFleur had said, “Absolutely, 100% I want to do this again.” Rodgers’ contradiction bothers Gutekunst and others in the football department.
In the same session with reporters, Gutekunst is asked if he would be concerned what impact such a pick would have on Rodgers.
So I don’t worry about that, but I’m not — with all players — you can’t control that.
April 23, 2020: Shortly after the Minnesota Vikings used the 22nd pick to take Justin Jefferson, a receiver the Packers coveted and Rodgers liked, another receiver comes off the board at 25 when the San Francisco 49ers takes Brandon Aiyuk.
1, 2020: Just before the trade deadline, Rodgers is asked whether they need help on offense .
Jan.
24, 2021: In the moments after the 31-26 loss to the Buccaneers in the NFC title game, Rodgers questions his future with the Packers, saying, ” a lot of guys’ futures that are uncertain — myself included.” Rodgers never got the ball back with a chance to win the game in the final minutes after LaFleur opted for a field goal to cut the deficit to five with 2:09 left rather than going for it on fourth-and-goal from the 8-yard line.
Jan 25, 2021: Packers president Mark Murphy says on WTAQ-WNFL radio in Green Bay when asked about Rodgers’ comments a day earlier: “I’ll say this, there’s no way in heck that Aaron is not going to be on the Packers.
Jan 26, 2021: In an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show,” Rodgers says: “I don’t think that there is any reason why I wouldn’t be back,” emphasizing the word “think.” “But look, there’s not many absolutes in this business.
It didn’t finish like we wanted to finish, but I think everybody’s purely motivated to get back, and I think, like I said, I don’t think there’s anything that we have to do.
March 20, 2021: The Packers don’t convert Rodgers’ $6.8 million roster bonus into a signing bonus, which would have given them more than $4.5 million in immediate salary-cap relief.
March 30, 2021: In the first public hint of serious trouble brewing, Murphy has a chance to diffuse things but does not.
April 5, 2021: In what to date remains his last interview on the subject, Rodgers reiterates on “The Pat McAfee Show” nothing has changed in the year since the Packers picked Love.
Later that night, after picking cornerback Eric Stokes in the first round, Gutekunst says the Packers have no plans to trade Rodgers and believe things can be worked out.
May 3, 2021: 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan, one of LaFleur’s mentors, says on “The Rich Eisen Show” he called LaFleur the day after Schefter’s report went public to inquire about a trade.
May 10, 2021: All-Pro receiver Adams, in an interview of Fox Sports Radio, says his future with the Packers would “potentially” be impacted by how the Rodgers’ situation is resolved.