Former Teammate Claims Aaron Rodgers was the Reason Aaron Jones Re-Signed With Packers

A lot of eyebrows were raised when NFC North franchise Green Bay Packers opted against placing the franchise tag on star running back Aaron Jones earlier this year.

The 26-year-old was due to enter free agency in the coming weeks. However, against all odds, Jones and the Packers agreed on a 4-year contract extension worth $48 million.

Jones was one of the top performers for Green Bay in 2020 as they reached the NFC Championship game earlier this year. The Texas-El Paso player rushed for 1,104 rushing yards last season with 9 rushing touchdowns.

Jones has been with the Packers since 2017. He was a 5th-round draft pick (182nd overall). But what convinced the in-demand running back to re-sign with his former employers?

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Aaron Jones remains eager to link-up with Rodgers in 2021

As per former Green Bay Packers player AJ Hawk, it was the prospect of playing alongside Aaron Rodgers for yet another season that tempted Jones to return to Wisconsin.

He said, “I mean, I love it as a fan of the Packers. I think it’s great. I assumed he was gone and I think a lot of people did too but I think credit to Aaron Jones too.

“He probably understood he’s sitting there like ‘hey, I can play with A-rod, I catch the ball great out of the backfield’. You can use it as a slot receiver.

“I’m gonna stick with what got me here and he’s such a stud. I think it’s a genius move and what this four-year deal, it’s really like a two-year 20 million something,” Hawk said on the latest segment of The Pat McAfee Show.

Hawk and McAfee do make a solid point. Aaron Rodgers proved his dominance in 2020 by bagging his 3rd NFL MVP award. The 37-year-old threw for 4,299 yards with a mammoth 48 passing TDs against just 5 interceptions.

He will be disappointed with how the season panned out with another loss in the NFC Championship. Surely, the Packers can overcome that hurdle in coach Matt LaFleur’s 3rd full season as Head Coach.

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