Packer Central

LaFleur: Rodgers ‘Made Me Better Coach’

The Green Bay Packers made official their trade of Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets.

Bill Huber

In this story:

GREEN BAY, Wis. – With Aaron Rodgers stepping on the stage for his introductory press conference with the New York Jets on Wednesday, the Green Bay Packers at 1 p.m. announced the trade of the four-time MVP was official.

The news release included strong words from coach Matt LaFleur.

“I’ve had the opportunity to work with many great players, but none better than Aaron,” LaFleur said. "I will always be grateful for our time together, both on and off the field. The mark he left on our organization, players and coaches cannot be overstated. His drive for competitive greatness and the standards he set for everyone, including himself, made our team better.

“Ultimately, he made me a better coach. I will never forget his post-practice interactions with our families. His ability to connect with kids, including my own, was a great example for our locker room. He was and will always be a great representative of the ‘G’ and what it means to be a Green Bay Packer!”

RELATED: LAFLEUR DELIVERS FITTING GOOD-BYE TO RODGERS

The Packers posted this tribute video.

Rodgers won four MVPs with the Packers, including in 2020 and 2021, and a Super Bowl in 2010. In NFL history, he ranks fifth in touchdown passes, ninth in passing yards, second in passer rating and eighth in completions. His preposterous 4.52 touchdown passes for every interception is No. 1 by a wide margin, with the Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes second with 3.92 touchdowns and nobody else at even 3.15.

Packers President Mark Murphy said the team looked forward to welcoming Rodgers back to Lambeau Field to “celebrate his induction into the Packers Hall of Fame and unveil his name on the Lambeau Field façade.”

As reported on Monday, the Packers and Jets flip-flopped positions in the first round, with Green Bay going from No. 15 to No. 13. Green Bay also gained the Jets’ second- and sixth-round draft picks (Nos. 42 and 207) while sending back the second of their fifth-rounders (No. 170). Plus, Green Bay will gain a second-round pick in 2024 that could move to a first-rounder if Rodgers plays at least 65 percent of the offensive snaps in 2023.

“We are eternally grateful for all that Aaron gave the Packers the last 18 years,” Packers GM Brian Gutekunst said in the release. “While he undoubtedly will be remembered as one of the best players in our franchise's storied history for all his accomplishments on the field, it is his competitive greatness, leadership and toughness that make him such a special player and person.

“The daily expectations he placed on himself and his teammates were instrumental in all that we accomplished during a special era of Packers football. We wish Aaron nothing but success and look forward to welcoming him back to Green Bay in the future and celebrating his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.”

More Green Bay Packers News

Aaron Rodgers says hello

Aaron Rodgers says goodbye

Over/unders on potential first-round picks

20 – yes, 20 – fresh mock drafts

Updated list of Packers’ draft picks

Latest NFL Draft betting odds

Stats, scouting, stories on Top 18 tight ends

The tight ends who might not be on the board

Who won the Aaron Rodgers trade?

Winners and losers from the Aaron Rodgers trade

Packer Central mock drafts following Aaron Rodgers trade

Packers trade Aaron Rodgers to Jets

Aaron Rodgers leaves behind a complicated legacy

Published
Bill Huber
BILL HUBER

Bill Huber, who has covered the Green Bay Packers since 2008, is the publisher of Packers On SI, a Sports Illustrated channel. E-mail: packwriter2002@yahoo.com History: Huber took over Packer Central in August 2019. Twitter: https://twitter.com/BillHuberNFL Background: Huber graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, where he played on the football team, in 1995. He worked in newspapers in Reedsburg, Wisconsin Dells and Shawano before working at The Green Bay News-Chronicle and Green Bay Press-Gazette from 1998 through 2008. With The News-Chronicle, he won several awards for his commentaries and page design. In 2008, he took over as editor of Packer Report Magazine, which was founded by Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Nitschke, and PackerReport.com. In 2019, he took over the new Sports Illustrated site Packer Central, which he has grown into one of the largest sites in the Sports Illustrated Media Group.

Home/News