Aaron Rodgers has admitted he believed his NFL career was over when he went down injured on his fourth snap as a New York Jets player last season.
The 40-year-old was the Jets’ marquee signing last summer as the franchise looked to put years of sub-par quarterback play behind them, only to see the former Green Bay Packers star suffer a season-ending Achilles injury on the team’s first offensive series of the campaign.
As Rodgers targets a return in 2024, he has opened up on his initial reaction to the injury.
"I was really thinking, 'This is it. You don't come back from this injury,'" Rodgers told the ‘I Can Fly’ podcast.
"I had this incredible offseason experience in a new city, in a new town, with new teammates, a new organization, an owner for the first time, and really falling back in love with the game that I first fell in love with when I was 5 years old," Rodgers said. "And it was absolutely beautiful and special and deep and rich and yummy, and just incredible.
"And then, one of the most heartbreaking nights of my life, when I played four plays. Talk about an ego death."
Rodgers pushed to return last season but did not rush into a premature return once the Jets had been eliminated from playoff contention. Now, he cannot wait to get back to action.
"I'm excited about playing again," the four-time NFL MVP winner said. "I love playing. I fell back in love with the game, and then I had it taken away after four plays. I miss being out there, I love competing.
"Football is my happy place. That's where I feel most in control of my athletic ability. I missed that last year, I really, really missed it. My heart was broken. I'm excited about taking the field one more time and -- not life or death -- going to battle with my guys."
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