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Aaron Rodgers signed a contract extension with the Green Bay Packers this offseason but still he is often thinking about retirement. Rodgers, 38, took some time after the 2021 season to reflect and decide his next steps.
Three options were on the table for Rodgers after the 2021 season - to stay with the Packers, to sign with another NFL team, or to simply retire. After carefully considering all of his options, Rodgers decided to sign a three-year, $150.8 million extension with the Packers.
"I think about (retirement) all the time," Rodgers said during a quarterback roundtable that TNT ran after "The Match" golf event. "And I resonate with what Tom [Brady] said about the mindset of 55-45 (percentage of wanting to play).
When you commit, you're 100%."
Rodgers: The older you get, the interests change
Rodgers, who was selected in the first round of the 2005 NFL draft, has been in the NFL for nearly two decades. Rodgers has been through a lot over the course of his career and he admits the physical and mental challenges have left a toll on him.
"The older you get, the interests change and the grind, I think, wears on you a little bit more, and the football part, that's the easy part. That's the joy," Rodgers said. "It's the other stuff that wears on you and makes you think about life after football.
Tommy obviously set the bar so high with playing so many years, but I can definitely see the end coming." Even though Rodgers will be turning 39 later this year, he is still considered as one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL.
Rodgers is coming off two big seasons as he was named back-to-back NFL MVP in 2020 and 2021. Last season, the Packers suffered a devastating playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the divisional round. The Packers weren't happy with their disappointing playoff exit and they will be extremely motivated to bounce back in 2022.