Aaron Rodgers is ready for one more chapter of NFL history. A book titled 'A Magnificent Obsession' sits on the shelf behind him, and he sees the irony and humour in it when he reflects on his own love affair with the game. It is a game he cannot say goodbye to, yet he has insisted this season, his 22nd, will be his last of a stellar Hall of Fame career.
Just moments before speaking with Sky Sports, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Mc Carthy was asked how the Rodgers of today differs from the one he won a Super Bowl with in Green Bay. His first answer was more grey hairs. At 42, Rodgers will lead the Steelers out as a prized attraction when they face the New Orleans Saints in the NFL's historic Paris debut at Stade de France on Sunday, live on Sky Sports.
Rodgers has long embraced chances to reach new corners of the world through football. Last year he was a leading advocate for Pittsburgh's historic appearance in Dublin, and now he is preparing to take part in another milestone for the NFL in France. "As you get older you don't get a lot of firsts," he said. "To be in the first game in Paris is special." He added that he is grateful for the game and the places it has taken him.
Rodgers has thrown for 1,487 yards and 12 touchdowns to five interceptions, ranking ninth-most in the league, as Pittsburgh started the season 4-2. Reunited with his former Packers coach following Mike Tomlin's exit, he may not have achieved his quest for a second Super Bowl ring as planned, but he is at peace with what comes next. "I've got zero qualms about this being the end, zero fears about what's next," he said.
Source: Sky Sports Champions League · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing