The NFL lost one of its all-time greats to retirement when Tom Brady announced (again) that he would be hanging them up.
Brady, however, doesn’t want another star passer to join him just yet.
In an appearance on the Sirius XM “Let’s Go!” podcast, Brady commented on the future of current Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who has publicly said he will be mulling his future during an “isolation retreat.”
“You know what, I hope he doesn’t retire,” Brady said during the podcast. “I think the league needs good quarterbacks and he’s one of the greats. If he retires, it’ll be a sad day for the league. He’s an incredible player.”
Rodgers, 39, just completed his 18th season in the NFL, all of which have been with the Packers. His production dipped in the 2022 season after consecutive league Most Valuable Players awards in 2020 and 2021. With the Packers finishing 8-9 and missing out on the playoffs and potentially looking to the future, Rodgers has been rumored to be available in a trade. He has also openly considered retirement during public appearances.
“I’m still in the art of contemplation about my future,” Rodgers said Feb. 7 during an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show. “That’s why I think it’s going to be important to get through this week and then to take my isolation retreat and just be able to contemplate all things my future and then make a decision that I feel like is best for me moving forward and the highest interest of my happiness and then move forward.”
Rodgers explained that the isolation retreat would entail “four nights of complete darkness” and that it had been something he had been considering for several years. Rodgers said Tuesday that the retreat would be taking place “later this week.”
“Everyone has their different processes they go through,” Brady said of Rodgers’ decision. “And you know what, I think we all need to get off our phone a little bit more. I think we all need to get away from the TV a little bit more. I think we all need a little more nature and a little more silence and a little more peace.
“However he’s going about it, good for him. Everyone’s got their unique way to process the season. It’s very intense for all of us, and everyone gets to choose what they want to do.”
Rodgers fought off a thumb injury and completed 64.6% of his throws this season for 3,695 yards with 26 touchdowns against 12 interceptions. He posted a career low 91.1 quarterback rating. Brady, 45, announced Feb. 1 that he was retiring from the NFL after 23 seasons with seven Super Bowl championships, three MVP awards and 15 Pro Bowl seasons.
Story Credit: usatoday.com