The idea of an NFL player playing into his 40s is not such a crazy idea anymore, especially with the likes of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, who just turned 40, still playing at the top of his game.
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who is 33 years old, was asked what he would like to be doing when he turns 40.
“Hopefully right here,” Rodgers told reporters in front of his locker (h/t ESPN). “Hopefully talking to you guys right here.”
The idea of playing until or past the age of 40 seems realistic to the franchise signal caller.
“I do think it’s realistic,” the 33-year-old Rodgers said.
“I hope it’s in this locker room, though. That would mean it’s been at a high level. Like I said, hopefully Dec. 2 of 2024, help me out, 2023. Thank you.”
Rodgers was around for the tail end of Brett Favre’s career and points to players such as Tim Duncan, Kobe Bryant and Derek Jeter as examples of players who spent their entire career with one team, something Rodgers would like to do.
“It’s being a sports fan and watching some of my favorite all-time players either not finish in the place they started or the place where you fell in love watching them play — or they did,” Rodgers said.
“And seeing how different the memory is of those players as a fan, and seeing some of my favorite players growing finishing up now or have finished up in the last two or three years — the Derek Jeters, the Kobe Bryants, the Tim Duncans — doing it their entire career in one place, that makes things pretty special.
“So again, I’m a realist as well. I have to play well, the team has to want to bring me back, but I’ve said I’d like to finish things here where we started.”