Packers who won’t return for 2023: Aaron Rodgers
Following the Packers’ loss to Detroit, one could only assume the rumor mill would start churning immediately, and for a variety of reasons. However, Rodgers himself may have given us all reason to believe he is ready to hang up the cleats following the 2022 season.
After the game Sunday night, Lions rookie wide receiver met Rodgers on the field and asked for his jersey. But, Rodgers had an interesting response for the rookie.
"I gotta hold on to this one."
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 9, 2023
Aaron Rodgers to Jameson Williams, who asked for his jersey after the game.
(via @SNFonNBC) pic.twitter.com/4BnCEjRuSg
“I gotta hold onto this one.”
Out of all the jerseys he could decide to keep, this one, in particular, is meaningful. Could that be because it was his last game in a Packers uniform? Or how about his last game in the NFL altogether?
The significance of Sunday night’s game isn’t all that much in the grand scheme of things. If anything, it was a heartbreaking moment for Rodgers and Packers fans. But, if there was any significance to it whatsoever beyond them being eliminated, it is because Rodgers is ready to move on… finally.
It feels like every year, for the past three years, we have heard Rodgers’ retirement rumors. If it’s not a retirement rumor, it’s a rumor that he wants out of Green Bay. This year, it appears it will be no different.
Fire up the rumor mill, because this could actually be the year.