Aaron Rodgers does not want to return to Packers, per report

A report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter says that Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is disgruntled with the organization and “does not want to return to the team.”

Schefter reports that team brass, including team president Mark Murphy, general manager Brian Gutekunst, and head coach Matt LaFleur, have all met with Rodgers individually in hopes of bringing the star quarterback back to Green Bay, but to no avail.

Rodgers, who turns 38 in December, has been open about his desire to stay in Green Bay for the duration of his career. But since the Packers drafted Jordan Love in the first round last spring, Rodgers has also spoken openly about the reality that he may finish his career elsewhere.

The Packers, for their part, have remained steadfast in their public support for Rodgers. Speaking with the media on Monday, Gutekunst said “Aaron is our guy. He’s going to be our quarterback for the foreseeable future.” Likewise, the Packers have rebuffed advances from teams who have inquired about Rodgers, turning aside calls from both the Rams and 49ers this offseason.

Schefter’s report further indicates that the Packers have offered Rodgers a contract extension, but Rodgers has not accepted. That particular point has been the source of some consternation this offseason, as the Packers haven’t manipulated Rodgers’ existing deal to create cap space at all.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport additionally reports that the Packers and Rodgers have been working on a long-term extension for some time, but Rodgers has been “unhappy at times” during that process. According to Rapoport, Rodgers has outright refused a contract restructure, though it’s not clear exactly how much leverage he has there. Schefter’s report indicates that a portion of Rodgers’ contract demands mutual consent to restructure, but the team has other options (in standard NFL contracts, at least) that do not require the player’s consent.

It’s tough to see what the way forward for either side at this point, but it doesn’t appear pretty. Rodgers may not want to play for the Packers, but even if they were inclined to grant his reported wishes, it would be tough for the team to do so given the constraints of the cap. To wit: the Packers are looking at a cap hit of close to $40 million in dead money if they moved on from Rodgers this year.

A move after the 2021 season is more palatable, but that’s a lot of toothpaste to put back in the tube considering the somewhat incendiary nature of Schefter’s report.

The Packers have gone 13-3 each of the past two seasons, but have lost in the NFC Championship game both times.