“I Took That As A Slap In The Face.”: 4x NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers Recalls His First Rejection Letter Ever And How That Sunk His Heart

The NFL great Aaron Rodgers felt immense pain due to his first rejection. Everyone who has dreamt of achieving something had to go through the same feeling. The 4x NFL MVP is no different. He recalled how one rejection letter looked like the end of the world during his college admissions process. As a young athlete, he was aiming at all the top ten schools in the US.

However, he recalls that being from Chico, California, became a huge factor in his selection process. Not many young athletes were selected from his town, and he took a big shot. It wasn’t too shabby for a kid with big dreams, a remarkable throwing arm, and ambitions of becoming the best quarterback.

Moreover, football was his first love, and he would not give it up. Even if it meant getting rejected from every school he applied to during the process. However, per Rodgers, Purdue University’s rejection changed how he thought about his game and life.

The rejection from Purdue was his first rejection letter. Even though he got an from the University of Wisconsin within a week, the rejection stung him like a bee on a hot summer day.

A slap in the face ain’t a pretty picture for Aaron Rodgers

Speaking to Graham Bensinger about his career and life, the Packers‘ QB opened up. He said, “You know, the Purdue letter just said you don’t match up well against the guys we’re evaluating and I think there was a line in there I might have highlighted.”

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Rodgers added, “It said good luck with your aspirations in football, which I know they didn’t mean any ill-will about it, but I sure took that to heart. I took that as a slap in the face.” Well, that stinks. But look at him now. Talk about turning your rejection into your biggest inspiration.

It is not uncommon to hear success stories. But Aaron Rodgers wrote his script. Being rejected from one of the finest schools in the country to becoming a 4x NFL MVP winner; and on the road to winning three consecutive MVP awards, he turned that slap in the face into a million-dollar lottery win.

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