Aaron Rodgers Set To End 18-Year Run In Green Bay To Fly With The Jets
By Afouda Bamidele on April 26, 2023 at 5:00 AM EDT
Aaron Rodgers has taken extra steps toward concluding his move from the Green Bay Packers.
The move, which has taken months to complete, will see the professional footballer officially trade his white, gold, and dark green jersey for the New York Jets' white, green, and spotlight-white one. This unexpected move ends the multi-decorated athlete's 18-year tenure in Green Bay.
Aaron Rodgers' Move To New York Should Be Finalized Before Week's End
Even though playing with Green Bay earned him a Super Bowl win and four Most Valuable Player [MVP] awards, Rodgers has decided to move his talent to New York. Thanks to the trade, the Jets will receive the 39-year-old athlete, the Packers' No. 15 pick, and a fifth-rounder in Thursday's National Football League [NFL] Draft.
In exchange, the Packers will get the Jets' 13th overall 2023 draft choice, its second [No. 42] and sixth [No. 207] rounder, and a conditional 2024 second-round pick — which will become a first if Rodgers has 65% plays this season.
The Packers and Jets negotiation paused in recent weeks, was reactivated on Monday, with things rushing. Fox News indicated that the deal would be finalized by the end of this week before the draft begins.
The Packers selected the Bart Starr Award recipient with the 24th pick in the 2005 NFL Draft. Unfortunately, he dropped to the bottom of the first round when the San Francisco 49ers opted to pick Alex Smith as the first overall selection of that year.
Rodgers was Brett Favre's protégé for three years before assuming the starting role. He capped off his success in Green Bay with his first Super Bowl victory in 2010 and earned MVP honors the following year.
During his stint, Rodgers achieved ten Pro Bowl selections and four First-Team All-Pro designations. During a four-day darkness retreat last month, the star's decision to move to New York came on the heels of him considering retirement — and even a return to the Packers.
The NFL Passer Rating Leader Has Found Love With Mallory Edens
When Rodgers is not on the field, he reportedly lives it up with his new partner, Mallory Edens. The Blast reported that rumors of him dating the model began circulating less than a month after he and his last girlfriend, Blu of Earth — real name Charlotte Brereton — allegedly ended their romance.
As it turned out, the star footballer had his sights set on bigger fish as his new squeeze is the daughter of the Milwaukee Bucks and Aston Villa owner Wes Edens. While their relationship is relatively fresh to observers, the pair have known each other for years as they have spent quality time together — and gotten snapped — at several Bucks games.
Despite that friendship, Rodgers has avoided getting into something deeper with her — a decision many have assumed has to do with their 13-year age gap. Following the disclosure of the romance, one insider stated:
"Well, it has finally happened. Mallory Edens has had her eye on Aaron Rodgers for a very long time."
The source further claimed that Mallory "found her ticket," as she "has always wanted to be in the public eye." In their words, "Mallory was at the Packers' last game, and she was supporting her new boyfriend and favorite team by wearing their gear. Nothing says I'm all in like throwing on your boyfriend's team's gear."
Before he landed Edens, Rodgers was engaged to actress Shailene Woodley, a milestone he announced during his 2020 NFL MVP acceptance speech. The "Bug Little Lies" star later reaffirmed the status during a February 2021 appearance on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," where she revealed that their love story began a while ago.
As is the norm with romantic love, the duo suffered a few hiccups, including a rumored breakup in February 2022. The NFL 2010s All-Decade Team winner and Woodley rubbished that notion when the former referred to the "To Catch a Killer" actress as his "partner" in an Instagram post less than a week later.
The good times only lasted a while, as news of the couple calling it quits again surfaced in April 2022. While the quarterback has already moved on — more than once, Shailene is yet to be linked to romantic partners.
