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Aaron Rodgers ‘will take some time’ to decide whether to retire after ‘very good talks’ between the 39-year-old quarterback and the Green Bay Packers about future plans, GM Brian Gutekunst reveals
Aaron Rodgers didn’t look or round like a player planning to return to the NFL next season after the Green Bay Packers lost to the Lions on Sunday night, but speaking Friday, Brian Gutekunst had a positive update.
The Packers’ general manager said he’s had “very good discussions” with the 39-year-old quarterback, but will give him space to make his own decision about what happens next.
Sunday’s loss prevented the Packers from reaching the playoffs and put Rodgers’ decision about his future in the spotlight.
‘It’s certainly going to take some time. I think it’s fair,” Gutekunst said. “And as we work through this, I think as long as he takes his time, makes a decision just about his overall playing career, we’ll come together and move forward that way.”
Aaron Rodgers is still deciding what the future holds after the season ended for the Packers
The 39-year-old refused to close the door on an NFL future, but admitted he wasn’t sure.
‘We made a big commitment to him last offseason. So I think while we did that, it certainly wasn’t just for this year. So like I said, he’s going to take his time and the communication will be pretty constant as we go along.
“Certainly this year, I think I was dealing with some moving parts, some injuries, things like that. It wasn’t a great year offensively for us overall.
‘But I mean, you saw, he can still play at a very high level. I really liked the way he guided us. So I think as we go over the next month, we’ll start to put these things together and see how that happens.
We have had good conversations, as always. I spoke this week and they were very good conversations. I really respect the process that he goes through after the season. He has done this for a long time.
“What he goes through during the offseason to prepare for a season is significant. And I understand the decision you have to make about whether you want to go through that.
‘So, I’ve always tried to give him that time. We talked about the season, what went well, what went wrong, what he liked and what he didn’t. But not a lot of future stuff.
Packers general manager Brian Gutekuns said he has had positive conversations with Rodgers.
Aaron Rodgers left Lambeau for the last time this season disappointed, losing to Detroit
Jameson Williams approached Rogers after the game and asked for his jersey after the Lions’ win.
After the Packers were beaten 20-16 by the Lions, Rodgers refused to trade his jersey with Jameson Williams, telling him, “I’ve got to hold on to this one.”
And then, speaking at his postgame press conference, a visibly dejected Rodgers said: ‘It’s a little raw right now.
‘He’s a bit out of the game. I want to take the excitement out of it, have conversations and see where the organization is.
‘I’m not going to take them hostage, I understand it’s still January here, March is free agency. I just need some time to get the emotion out and figure out what’s best.
‘The competitive fire will always be there, I don’t think it will ever disappear. Sometimes it transfers to other things. But I wouldn’t regret leaving. I have to see what it feels like when I walk away from this.