Aaron Rodgers (left) never captured the hearts of Packer Nation like Brett Favre and other Green Bay Packer greats.
In the summer of 2008, when the Green Bay Packers were in the process of moving on from Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers was about as popular as a snowstorm in June.
Fans protested at Lambeau Field, demanding Favre be reinstated as Green Bay’s starting quarterback while chanting, “Favre Forever” and “Favre For President.” They heckled Rodgers on the practice field. And they flocked to Austin Strobel Airport and passionately cheered their hero when Favre briefly returned to town, before the Packers eventually traded him to the New York Jets.
Fast forward to 2023 and Rodgers’ popularity isn’t dramatically different today than it was 15 years ago.
Green Bay put the final touches on the Rodgers’ trade Monday, sending him to the Jets and closing the book on one of the more polarizing careers in franchise history.
While Packer Nation mourned Favre’s departure, few tears were shed when the Rodgers’ trade became official. In fact there was more celebrating than sorrow.
Talk radio. Social media. Fan polls.
They’ve all had largely the same message for Rodgers in recent days: “Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.”
That reaction from Packer Nation may be just as remarkable as the four MVPs Rodgers captured or his performance in the 2010 postseason when he led Green Bay to a Super Bowl title.
Despite one of the more impressive résumés in NFL history, Rodgers never captured the fan base like Don Hutson, Bart Starr, Reggie White or Favre.
In fact Rodgers’ Q-Rating today isn’t much higher than it was back in the summer of 2008. And listening to many fans celebrate Monday, you’d have thought Green Bay had just dumped Jerry Tagge, not a future Hall of Famer.
Wisconsin is the bluest of blue collar states. The locals are a hearty bunch that work hard, play harder and have little time for drama.
Rodgers, on the other hand, was constant commotion, an endless array of fuss. As the years passed, and the noise from Rodgers got louder, his supporters dwindled by the day.
