March 21, 2025, 06:15 AM PDT

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Amid the echoes of a rollercoaster 2024 season that saw the Green Bay Packers reach the NFC Championship, the franchise faced a bittersweet milestone Tuesday: Aaron Rodgers, the legendary quarterback whose 18-year tenure redefined excellence at Lambeau Field, announced his retirement after signing a one-day contract to retire a Packer. At the team’s facility, General Manager Brian Gutekunst fought back emotion as he honored the “one-team man” whose arm and mind crafted a legacy destined for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

In a packed press conference, Gutekunst’s voice cracked as he recalled drafting Rodgers 24th overall in 2005, when he was still a scout for the Packers. “He’s the greatest I’ve ever seen,” Gutekunst said, pausing to steady himself. “That pick—it changed us. Aaron was a magician on the field—those throws, that brain. Four MVPs, a Super Bowl, 475 touchdowns. He carried this team, this town, for nearly two decades. A genius, a leader, a champion.” Rodgers’ Packers stats are staggering: 475 passing TDs (franchise record), 65,589 passing yards, a 103.9 passer rating, and a Super Bowl XLV title in 2011, where he earned MVP honors with 304 yards and 3 TDs.

Gutekunst didn’t hold back, calling Rodgers “a first-ballot Hall of Famer, no question.” He added, “This organization owes him everything—18 years of brilliance.” Selected out of Cal in 2005, Rodgers waited three years behind Brett Favre before taking the reins in 2008, leading the Packers to 11 playoff appearances, eight NFC North titles, and four NFL MVP awards (2011, 2014, 2020, 2021). His 2024 season—3,947 yards, 27 TDs, 8 INTs—ended with a playoff loss to the Lions, but at 41, he chose to hang up his cleats where it all began.

The personal touches hit Gutekunst hardest. “Aaron wasn’t just a QB—he was our heartbeat,” he said, eyes glistening. “I’ll never forget 2020—down 0-2, he walked into the huddle and said, ‘We’ve got this, trust me.’ Went 13-1 after that, won MVP. That’s who he was.” Rodgers’ 18-year run—208 regular-season starts, 147 wins, one Super Bowl—all with Green Bay, marks him as a rare “one-team man” in today’s NFL. Gutekunst’s farewell painted a picture of a quarterback whose precision and passion will echo through Packers history forever.