Reporter provides new insight into Aaron Rodgers, Packers divorce

Green Bay Packers reporter Peter Bukowski believes the breakup involving the club and star quarterback Aaron Rodgers was largely related to the fact that both parties simply wanted to go in different directions. 

"The Packers were ready to see Aaron Rodgers go, just as Aaron Rodgers was ready to go this offseason," Bukowski explained during the latest edition of the "Short and To The Point" podcast, per Sam Neumann of Awful Announcing. "This was as amicable as a breakup can be between a superstar and a team that wasn’t injury-related. Like the [Indianapolis] Colts moved on from Peyton Manning (after the 2011 season), only because they were getting Andrew Luck, who was the most sure thing in the draft since Peyton Manning, at least, maybe since John Elway." 

It was thought as far back as during the opening night of the 2021 NFL Draft that Rodgers' dissatisfaction with general manager Brian Gutekunst caused the future Hall of Famer to question his relationship with the Packers that offseason. Rodgers ultimately remained in Green Bay and then signed a massive contract extension with the organization in March 2022, but Bukowski suggested the four-time NFL Most Valuable Player didn't receive all that he wanted before he pushed to join the New York Jets via a trade this past spring. 

"Rodgers wanted guys fired," Bukowski said. "He wanted massive cultural changes. He wanted a massive amount of more input in what was going on in Green Bay and the Packers said, 'No. No. 1, we’re not gonna trade you. No. 2, we’re not gonna give you all this input.'" 

It was reported this past March that the Packers decided to go with 2020 first-round draft pick Jordan Love as their starter for the upcoming season because "Gutekunst wanted an all-in Rodgers...and knew he wouldn’t get it." On the podcast, Bukowski noted that Rodgers "didn’t buy in" even after the Packers gave the 39-year-old "a little bit more control of the offense" last season. 

With the Jets, Rodgers is again playing under offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, the signal-caller's OC with the Packers from 2019 through the 2021 season. Rodgers agreed to a significant pay cut to pursue a Super Bowl title with the Jets across at least the next two campaigns, something he clearly wasn't willing to do with his former employer. 

Bukowski believes the relationship between Rodgers and Green Bay did get "a little toxic." The Packers will one day celebrate Rodgers' accomplishments via a ceremony held at Lambeau Field, but it's clear this summer everyone involved needed a divorce.