New York Jets Aaron Rodgers Praised by Packers Ex: ‘Greatest Teammate’

Despite being shrouded in off-field controversy, New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers was praised by his ex-Green Bay Packers receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling for being his “greatest teammate.”

East Rutherford, NJ August 26, 2023 -- Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers / Chris Pedota, NorthJersey.com / USA

While New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers remains a polarizing figure away from the gridiron, his reputation as a teammate continues to remain impeccable. 

Unlike his public war of words with late night television hosts, or his ludicrous flirtation with politics, the four-time NFL MVP is generally regarded quite highly by those with whom he has shared a locker room, both in East Rutherford, and as a member of the Green Bay Packers.

In that vein, current free agent, and ex-Packers receiver Marquez Valdez-Scantling revealed on Thursday morning to CBS Sports, that he counts Rodgers as one of his “greatest teammates.”

“Man, he’s one of the greatest you’ll ever find,” Valdes-Scantling said of Rogers as a teammate. “He cares more about his teammates than about the game of football. You know, I think that’s something that people really don’t understand. Because people get this perception of him that he’s this diva or all about himself, that’s the furthest thing from the truth.”

Nov 5, 2020; Santa Clara, California, USA; Green Bay Packers wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling and quarterback Aaron Rodgers. / Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

The pair played together in Green Bay from 2018-2021. During that span, Valdes-Scantling caught 123 passes for 2,153 yards and 13 touchdowns. While he has enjoyed great success for the past two seasons while playing for the Kansas City Chiefs (with three-time Super Bowl champion Patrick Mahomes,) the South Florida product remains grateful for the life lessons he has learned from Rodgers.  

“Aaron has taught me so much on and off the field,” Valdes-Scantling added. “ He’s a big advocate of mental health and how you approach life, not just football. The things that he’s gone through over the years, he shares that and kind of just lets you know, like, hey, I’m human too … Just for him to be able to open that up and be a great friend to me, not even just a teammate, I’m forever indebted to him.”

Should he choose to say clear of off-field controversy, Rodgers will turn his attention to the upcoming season — his second with the Jets. The 40-year-old was traded to New York, along with the Packers' first and fifth-round selections in the 2023 NFL Draft, in exchange for the Jets' first, second and sixth-round selections in the 2023 draft and a conditional second-round selection in 2024.

However, he suffered a ruptured Achilles on just his fourth offensive snap of the season. Though he missed nearly the entirety of his first season in New York, Rodgers is hopeful to be ready for the start of training camp in June. 

As for a potential reunion this season with the Jets, Valdes-Scantling mentioned that he has talked with Rodgers about potentially coming to New York. However, the veteran receiver also revealed that he will let the process “handle itself.”