Aaron Rodgers is currently known as the greatest quarterback in the league. But before he reached the top of the League, he was an obscured athlete nobody wanted. Read more about his inspiring story and Aaron Rodgers net worth.
Aaron Rodgers is currently the NFL’s highest-paid quarterback. His latest multi-million contract with the Green Bay Packers assures an annual $50 million for the first three years.
The four-time NFL MVP Broke Payton Manning’s passer rating in 2004 was at least 110. Rodgers also has 10 Pro Bowl titles in his name. He took the top spot as NFL passing leader four times, passing touchdown leader twice, and NFL completion leader in 2010.
He also made franchise history for leading the Green Bay Packers to their only Super Bowl victory.
Aaron Rodgers net worth is estimated at $120 million. Contrary to the critics from the early years of his career, Rodgers is the most sought-after of all quarterbacks in the league.
Unlike Tennessee Titans starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill, Aaron never received offers for college football scholarships. He started as the guy who would go with any team that would take him, which is why it became a very important moment when he was able to impress scouts and the media with what he could do.
Rodgers was the top prospect in the 2005 NFL Draft Pick. All his hope and the bright future that he expected turned into a humbling, almost a tragically demoralizing, start as his dreams were crushed on national television. From number one, he dropped down as the 24th overall pick.
How did this unwanted American football player become one of the best in the league?
Aaron Rodgers Short Bio
Aaron Charles Rodgers was born on December 2, 1983. He grew up in Chico, California, with his older brother Luke, and younger brother, sports commentator Jordan Rodgers.
Football is in the blood. Aaron’s father, Edward Wesley Rodgers, played as an offensive lineman for the Chico State Wildcats, in the 70s, before becoming a chiropractor. The youngest brother, Jordan, was also a college quarterback and a professional American football player.
The family moved to Oregon for a while, where Aaron finished elementary. They returned to their hometown in 1997, where Aaron attended Pleasant Valley Highschool and got into football.
He was both a diligent student and a talented athlete. Aaron made the school and his family proud, bringing home consistent high marks, and setting school records in football.
Aaron accumulated 4,421 passing yards in just the two years he played as starting quarterback, setting a record of six touchdowns and 440 all-purpose yards in a single-game match.
Currently, at the height of his career, Rodgers stands at 6 feet 2 inches and 102 kg. He was, unfortunately, much smaller back when he was still hoping to get into Division I programs. For the scouts, a rookie 5 feet 10 inches and 72 kg is not worth the penny.
It’s not like there aren’t any “vertically challenged” pro-football players on NFL teams. New England Patriots wide receiver and Super Bowl LIII MVP Julian Edelman was also a small guy under 6 feet. It never prevented him from achieving far more in his career than most NFL players.
Aaron Rodgers College Career
He assumed that being a tad short in height and weight and coming from a small town may keep working against his favor. If he couldn’t make it into professional football, Aaron considered switching to baseball or taking up a career outside of sports.
But it so happened that Butte Community College wanted him. It’s not Florida State like Aaron hoped for, but he was given a chance to continue playing the sport he loved.
During his first season playing for Butte, Jeff Tedford, head coach of the Califonia Golde Bears, came across the rookie and was immediately impressed. The following year in 2002, Rodgers transferred to the University of California Berkely to play for the Bears.
Five games into his first season with Berkely, Rodgers was named starting quarterback for the bears. That year in 2003, he led the team to victory against Illinois, USC Trojans, and Virginia Tech.
Aaron Rodgers’ Professional Football Career
2003 with Cal was a successful season for Rodgers. He set school records for the lowest percentage of passes intercepted at 1.43% and 300-yard games with five. He was also named MVP in the match against Virginia Tech in the Insight Bowl and passed for 394 yards.
During Aaron’s tenure at Cal, Dodgers led the team to victory in almost every game. He finished the season with 24 TD, 2,566 passing yards, and 8 interceptions.
After carrying Cal to the third spot on the rankings, Rodgers decided to pledge his senior year to the 2005 NFL Draft.
2005 NFL Draft
Rodgers exceeded every expectation that scouts and football experts could hope for in a recruit. Professionals in the league openly declared that the San Fransisco 49ers were sure to name him for their first overall pick. But on the draft day, instead of fulfillment, Rodgers was subjected to hours of torment.
The event was broadcasted live on national television. The whole of America saw the look on Aaron Rodgers’ face when the 49ers announced that they’d go with Utah’s Alex Smith.
Ten picks later, Rodgers remained undrafted. The camera would pan to capture his reaction with every name mentioned, and the country witnessed how his heart sank each time. As if the humiliation wasn’t enough, Rodgers was made to comment on how he, the supposedly best prospect of the year, felt about falling off the list.
Aaron Rodgers endured five and a half hours, trying his best to smile and keep his composure in front of a dozen cameras. Finally, his name was called for Green Bay Packers’ 24th overall pick. Like a deja vu from high school, although disappointed, Rodgers went with the team that wanted him.
A day of embarrassment was over, only to be replaced by a different kind of drama. Though relieved to have been picked by the packers, he realized he was on the same team as the legendary Brett Favre. The seasoned quarterback wasn’t too happy with the draft.
Brett Favre
Farve didn’t mince his words when asked about Aaron. He made it clear to the public early on that Rodgers is meant to watch him play and not take his place any time soon. Rodgers understood the situation and kept himself in line, which helped improve the two quarterbacks’ relationship.
Rodgers performed poorly during the preseason of 2005 against the Tennessee Titans. He only completed 2 of 7 passes before throwing a touchdown pass to teammate ben Steele. He barely played during the regular season and only went out on the field in the 4th quarter against New Orleans Saints.
He was again in play in December that year, at the end of the 3rd quarter against the Baltimore Saints, which ended in an overwhelming 48-3 loss.
2006 was also a weak season for Rodgers until October, when he stepped in for Favre against the Philadelphia Eagles after the lead quarterback was injured. Rodgers was again out of the game by December due to a broken foot while playing against New England Patriots.
The injury took Rodgers out for the rest of the season.
Favre announced his retirement at the end of the 2006 season. It was reported that the quarterback’s sudden exit from the NFL resulted from a concussion he sustained from lineman Corey Wootton while against the Chicago Bears. But to everyone’s surprise, Favre was back the whole 2007 season.
Rumors also surfaced that Aaron would be traded to the Oakland Raiders for Randy Moss in the 2007 draft. The whispers ended when the wide receiver ended up with the New England Patriot. It’s uncertain if the Packers truly planned to discard Rodgers, but the twist assured his palace in the team for the next season.
Rodger’s third season was just as slow as the previous two. His most notable appearance was late in the year, stepping in for Favre during the second quarter against the Dallas Cowboys. Though the game ended in the Packers losing, Rodgers led the team and regained a 17-point deficit.
By March of 2008, Favre announced his official retirement, and the starting quarterback position was subsequently handed to Aaron Rodgers. By July, Favre resurfaced, wanting his old position back. But this time, the franchise declined and decided to stay behind Aaron Rodgers as their starting quarterback.
Rodgers was caught in the tug of war between the franchise and Brett Favre simply because he was his heir apparent. He disliked commenting on the issue, but he was hounded by the media several times a week and asked the same few questions each time.
He also had to deal with the ire from the people who supported the team and hardcore followers of Brett Favre. In Rodgers’ very own words, he would never wish the uncomfortable dilemma on anyone.
Brett Favre was traded to the New York Jets in 2008, then spent 2009 to 2010 with the Minnesota Vikings. He finally retired in 2011 after failing post-concussion examinations required by the NFL.
The Road to the Top
Aaron Rodgers’ first season as the Green Bay Packers starting quarterback confirmed that he was meant to play a key figure in the field. In 2008, along with 4,038 passing yards and 28 touchdowns, he set a personal best of only 13 interceptions in a season, which still stands today.
Rodgers led the team against the Minnesota Vikings in a 25-19 victory at the Lambeau Field, then defeated the Detroit Lions during the second week with Rodgers named for the FedEx Air award. Rodgers again set another personal best of 157 consecutive passes without interceptions.
The streak ended when he was intercepted during the match against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. But still, he placed third in the franchise, behind Bart Starr and Brett Favre.
In October of 2008, Aaron Rodgers signed a six-year extension contract with the Green Bay Packers for $65 million.
In 2009, Rodgers made NFL history as the only player to accumulate 4,000 passing yards within the first two years as a starter. He earned a ticket to the Pro Bowl after his passer rating was logged at 103.2, second to Bart Starr’s 105, recorded in 1966.
Super Bowl XLV
Season 2010 started slow for the Green Bay Packers and Aaron Rodgers. He was shaky til midseason, with already 9 interceptions compared to 7 from the previous season. His stats also hovered in 16th place with an 85.3% passer rating. But slowly, Aaron regained his footing.
He was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week after leading the team to a win against the San Francisco 49ers in week 13. The team again went through setbacks with Rodgers being injured and suffering losses to the Detroit Lions and the New York Giants.
Rodgers took back a win from the Giants in one of the last two games for the regular season, scoring 4 touchdown passes and completing 25 of 37 attempts for 404 passing yards. His passer rating also shot to 139.9. For a second time, Rodgers was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week.
Then after defeating the Chicago Bears in the following game, Aaron was voted FedEx NFL Player of the Year.
The Green Bay Packers made the playoffs as the sixth seed in the Wild Card round. They proceeded to win against the Eagles and then defeated the #1 seed, Atlanta Falcons, which ended in a 48-21 win. They finally secured the NFC Championship from the Chicago Bears with a final score of 21-14.
The Packers faced the Pitsburg Steelers at Super Bowl XLV. Aaron led the team to a 31-25 victory after many close calls. His extraordinary performance in the game brought his first Super Bowl MVP title. A deserving personal victory for years of hard work.
Rodgers’ performance, once again, laid his name in NFL history. He became the third player to pass for over 1,000 yards in a single postseason and one of only four quarterbacks to record over 300 yards passing, with at least three touchdown passes and no interceptions in a Super Bowl.
Aaron Rodgers’s Continued Success
Rodgers’ place affirmed his place in the NFL with the success he obtained in season 2010 and Super Bowl XLV. Aaron Rodgers and The Green Bay Packers became a force in the league.
In season 2011, the Packers won overwhelming victories against the Denver Broncos in week 4 with 49-23, the St. Louis Rams with 24-3 in week 6, and a 45-38 score against the San Diego Chargers. The steak only broke in the game against the Kansas City Chiefs, which ended with a 19-14 loss.
Rodgers was named MVP a second time after receiving the top vote for the AP NFL Most Valuable Player and Offensive Player of the Year for the 2014 season. He was also voted by other players in the league for the 2nd spot on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2015.
Rodgers’ third and fourth awards as MVP came consecutively in 2020 and 2021. At this point, Rodgers had achieved every goal he had as a football player. He was considering either accepting a deal with a different NFL team or being wise and quitting while he’s ahead.
In March of 2022, the Packers offered a 3-year contract extension worth $150.8 million, but for Rodgers was not an issue. He was hesitant because retirement seemed more appealing, and the Denver Broncos were willing to go all out for him to join their team.
Days later, the 4-time MVP proposed the franchise, which the Packers accepted. Both sides agreed to a 4-year extension for a $200 million contract that included $153 million in guaranteed money. The contract assures an average of $50 million in the first three years.
That day on March 22, 2022, the contract made Aaron Rodgers the highest-paid football player in the NFL.
Aaron Rodgers Net Worth – Frequently Asked Questions
How is Aaron Rodgers Net Worth?
Aaron Rodgers is estimated at $50 million. He signed a new deal with the Green Bay Packers to stay on the team for the next four years. The contract is reportedly worth $200 million, with $153 million in guarantee and an average earning of $50 million in the first three years.
What is Aaron Rodgers’ Salary?
Aaron Rodgers’s salary was initially set at $26 million, but the new deal bumped his pay base to $42 million for this year. Considering other elements, like sponsorships, appearances, and other incentives, Rodgers is set to earn at least $50 million.
Who makes More Money, Tom Brady or Aaron Rodgers?
Tom Brady is ahead of Rodgers with 7 Super Bowl wins and about $100 million in total earnings. But Rodgers’ renewed deal with the Green Bay Packers may set him as the highest career earner in the NFL.
Aaron Rodgers Net Worth – Final Thoughts
Not every NFL superstar had a shining start in the league like Patrick Mahomes, who was already in the sights of the league before graduating high school. Even Tannehill, who was criticized for his underwhelming start in the NFL, was flooded by scholarship offers from different colleges.
But regardless of their origins, what defined these superb athletes was their determination and love of the sport. Remember how Cristiano Romano crossed an ocean just to take the first few steps toward his dream, and Messi overcame a rare disorder and became a legend.
If the greats were able to overcome the heaviest of life’s adversities, then fate had been fairly square with the boy from Chico, California. But anyone with lesser determination had long chosen a different path. It only goes to show that hard work is always rewarded.
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