After suffering a season-ending Achilles injury against the Buffalo Bills just minutes into the season, New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers felt his career might be over. In the aftermath, he even questioned himself whether he had just played his final game.
In an interview with ESPN’s Alex Smith, Rodgers reflected on his thoughts from September 11, 2023. Smith inquired about his experiences from that day, which marked Rodgers’ highly anticipated debut with the Jets amidst a wave of excitement and emotion in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
“It’s kind of a blur, honestly…I knew when I was on the ground that something was wrong. And sometimes you get drilled, and you know something’s off and you hope you get up. And it kind of, like, shakes itself out sometimes,” the Jets quarterback admitted.
“But when I stood up, I said, ‘ugh.’ I knew it, you know, and i just went down. And everything flashing before your eyes. The 18 years in Green Bay, the trade, the spring, the excitement, the summer, the city, Hard Knocks, running on the field with the flag for the first time, 9/11. Yeah, and then just thinking that’s gonna be the last time. Because you know, I’m old. And the rehab I knew was going to be tough. And so, in the training room, I really thought, ‘Damn, that’s how I’m going to go out?’” Rodgers continued.