Aaron Rodgers has been an inspiration to many aspiring QBs throughout the league. People who have played under him have mostly prospered in their respective roles. Just ask Jordan Love! But there is one more person who had an interesting anecdote to share about the former Green Bay Packers legend. His name is Kurt Benkert, a former NFL QB for the Packers, the Falcons, and the San Francisco 49ers.
The young ex-QB appeared in a podcast by the New York Jets and spoke about his time playing with the veteran QB. The half-hour conversation revolved around Aaron Rodgers, with the Jets page looking to create possible hype for their QB before his re-entry into the side.
The host of the show asked Benkert about his time with the Green Bay Packers, and most importantly his in-person interaction with Aaron Rodgers. “When the Packers signed you, what was your first interaction with Aaron?” The QB recalled a funny story, that might as well have been an awkward moment shared between the two.
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The former NFL QB mentioned that Rodgers didn’t practice with the Packers in the summer of 2022 because of the complications in his contract. It was mostly Benkert, Jordan Love, and Blake Bortles. When Rodgers got back, the team cut Bortles, but let Benkert stay. That’s when he met Aaron Rodgers, whom he idolized, for the very first time. But their interaction might have been a tad bit awkward.
“It’s a good story I’m going in for uh what was it not training yeah for training camp and go to the bathroom go to take a pee and he’s walking up next to me to the urinal right next to me that’s my first time meeting him,” said the former Packers QB.
Benkert then added, “And so, he knew like my face from seeing it online and I obviously knew who he was he’d been like my childhood favorite player and so I just look over as we’re both peeing like hey, I’m the new quarterback nice to meet you I didn’t expect to meet you this way but glad to be here whatever.” The story is a mirror to Rodgers’ character and what Benkert said next gives more context into how Rodgers is seen as a person outside of the dynamics on the gridiron.
There is far more to Rodgers than football!
The host deducted how Benkert and Rodgers grew close in a short amount of time. The trick to that was Benkert’s approach to balancing his personal life with football.
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Aaron Rodgers spending time coaching up backup Kurt Benkert. Has been a frequent sight the first few days of camp. pic.twitter.com/Yc7VVrQ6dC
— Zach Heilprin (@ZachHeilprin) August 2, 2021
“I think it grew so fast because he appreciated that it wasn’t just 24/7 football for me, and I have balance in life and like things outside of football. I love football obviously, and I’m obsessed with what I do but, I do know how to disconnect, and I think he’s had experience with guys probably that don’t necessarily know how to do that and that’s who he is as a person.”
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While there’s no doubt that Rodgers has a well-rounded personality, people are excited to see the QB get back to the field of football and take up his dominant role on the gridiron. This is his final year of contract with the Jets and fans want to see him ball out. How do you think his season will go this time around? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.