Aaron Rodgers Says He May Retire After 2019 Season

The Green Bay Packers made quarterback Aaron Rodgers the highest paid player in the NFL with the massive contract extension they handed him back at the end of April. But while he’s now a very rich man, Rodgers spoke with USA Today and said that he’s still just a “regular guy” who has to get his oil changed, buy groceries and mow his own lawn just like everyone else in Green Bay.

“I think some people forget sometimes I do have to go to the grocery store, I do enjoy going out to dinner, I have to get my oil changed from time to time,” Rodgers, via the Press-Gazette Media. “I do all the normal things.”

But during the extensive interview posted on USA Today.com, Rodgers was presented a topic that Packers fans do not yet want to think about — retirement. When asked if he can see himself playing beyond his current contract (which runs until 2019). Rodgers didn’t give a definitive yes or no answer but rather said it all depends on how he plays for the next seven years of his career.

"I said (in the past) eight more. I played eight (seasons), I think I can get eight more. But this contract, the way it’s set up, it’s not comparable to some of the other similar contracts where the cap number becomes so large at the end of three and four and five (years) where they might have to re-do it. I think we can legitimately see this all the way through seven years. Now that would take very consistent play from me, for me to be worth those numbers for the next seven years. But I fully expect to play well and if I can play seven more good years and we can have some more success and win a couple more (titles), then it might be time to hang it up."

Now before you start panicking — or feeling really old– 2019 is still far off and a lot can happen between now and then. And Rodgers did go on to say that if he can still be an offseason contributor and his legs were healthy that he could consider playing beyond the 2019 season. But the Packers quarterback is turning 30 years old which means he’ll be 37 when it comes time to getting a new deal. Packers fans are well familiar with the longevity of Brett Favre and they’re hoping they see the same out of Rodgers.

At this pace he’s going to be one of the all-time greats by the time the 2019 season rolls around and he may already have records broken that Favre was still chasing at 40.

But the fact Rodgers is looking that far into the future only shows off his true genius as a visionary, and he gave Packers fans everywhere hope that the ride will continue beyond 2019.

“I’ve always said as long as I can be (a) 100 percent offseason contributor and be here for the OTAs and want to be here and continue to want to put in the time in the offseason, then I’m going to be playing,” Rodgers said, via USA Today. “As long as I have my legs and that commitment to the team, then I’ll keep playing.