Aaron Rodgers Emerges from 4-Day “Darkness Retreat” – What’s Next?

Aaron Rodgers has emerged from his four-day ‘darkness retreat’, according to the owner of the facility in southern Oregon where the Green Bay Packers quarterback spent the past several days and nights.^[0]

The 39-year-old Rodgers, who is under contract with the Packers for $59.465 million guaranteed if he plays in 2023, has played his entire 18-year NFL career for Green Bay.^[0] He had said on The Pat McAfee Show back on Feb. 14 that he was going to spend four days and four nights in “complete darkness” during an “isolation retreat” to contemplate his football future.^[1]

According to Scott Berman, who owns Sky Cave Retreats, the 300-square-foot room in which Rodgers spent his time is a partially underground structure devoid of light, with a queen bed, a bathroom and a meditation-like mat.^[1] The room is equipped with full power and the lights can be switched on from within.^[2]

The four-time NFL MVP has yet to provide an update on his NFL future, though the Packers are open to all options — whether that's bringing him back, trading him away or letting him walk into the sunset.^[3]

The New York Jets have been the team most often associated with Rodgers if he departs from Green Bay, and players on the Las Vegas Raiders have been openly trying to convince the team to sign the 39-year-old.^[4]

Mark Murphy, the president of the Packers, declared earlier in the month that there was no timeline for Rodgers to come to a conclusion, but he wished for the matter to be settled before free agency began.^[5] NFL Network's Tom Pelissero said Tuesday on ‘The Rich Eisen Show' that if Rodgers wants to return to Green Bay and is fully bought in, the Packers want him back.^[6]

Now that Rodgers’ isolation trip is over, fans can finally start wondering what decision he’ll make.^[7] Will he return to Green Bay or will he try his luck with another team?^[8] Only time will tell.

0. “Aaron Rodgers Leaves Oregon Facility, Ends Darkness Retreat” RealGM, 23 Feb. 2023, https://football.realgm.com/wiretap/48895/Aaron-Rodgers-Leaves-Oregon-Facility-Ends-Darkness-Retreat

1. “NFL Rumors: Packers’ Aaron Rodgers Ends Four-Day Darkness Retreat” NESN, 23 Feb. 2023, https://nesn.com/2023/02/nfl-rumors-packers-aaron-rodgers-ends-four-day-darkness-retreat/

2. “ESPN: Packers QB Aaron Rodgers emerges from his ‘darkness retreat'” WISN Milwaukee, 23 Feb. 2023, https://www.wisn.com/article/espn-packers-qb-aaron-rodgers-emerges-darkness-retreat-nfl-green-bay/43040524

3. “Aaron Rodgers emerges from darkness retreat” msnNOW, 23 Feb. 2023, https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/aaron-rodgers-emerges-from-darkness-retreat/ar-AA17QJae

4. “Here Are Photos Of The Partially Underground Darkness Retreat Where Aaron Rodgers Stayed At In Oregon (PICS)” Daily Snark, 23 Feb. 2023, https://dailysnark.com/2023/02/23/here-are-photos-of-the-partially-underground-darkness-retreat-where-aaron-rodgers-stayed-at-in-oregon/

5. “Packers QB Aaron Rodgers emerges from darkness retreat” FOX Sports, 23 Feb. 2023, https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/packers-qb-aaron-rodgers-emerges-from-darkness-retreat

6. “Aaron Rodgers 2023 NFL team odds: Four-time MVP emerges from darkness retreat, now favored to remain with …” SportsLine, 23 Feb. 2023, https://www.sportsline.com/NFL/news/aaron-rodgers-2023-nfl-team-odds-four-time-mvp-emerges-from-darkness-retreat-now-favored-to-remain-with-packers-over-raiders-jets-titans/

7. “NFL News: Aaron Rodgers ends darkness retreat to announce final decision with Packers” Bolavip, 23 Feb. 2023, https://bolavip.com/en/nfl/NFL-News-Aaron-Rodgers-ends-darkness-retreat-and-is-ready-to-make-a-decision-20230223-0017.html

8. “Report: Aaron Rodgers Ends Darkness Retreat, Future Still Uncertain” NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth, 23 Feb. 2023, https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/sports/report-aaron-rodgers-ends-darkness-retreat-future-still-uncertain/3200898