A book on the shelf behind Aaron Rodgers is entitled ‘A Magnificent Obsession’, to which he sees the irony-meets-humour in relation to his own NFL love affair.
It is the game he cannot say goodbye to, but one he will say goodbye to at the end of this season, which he has insisted shall be the last of his stellar Hall of Fame career.
Just moments earlier Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy had been asked about the difference in the Rodgers of now compared to the Rodgers with whom he had worked and won a Super Bowl in Green Bay. More grey hairs was the first answer.
But at the age of 42 Rodgers will lead the Steelers out as a prized attraction when they face the New Orleans Saints in the NFL’s historic Paris debut at Stade de France on Sunday, live on Sky Sports.
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“To steal a line from one of my all-time favourite movies, ‘Obsession is a young man’s game’,” Rodgers told Sky Sports.
“And the NFL is the young man’s game. I’m hanging on and enjoying this last one.”
So often the four-time MVP has likened his latter years to being on the proverbial ‘back nine’ of his NFL career, continuing to ride the highs and lows of a game that hasn’t always fallen in his favour.
“I think I’m on the 18th green!” he laughed.”
Rodgers has thrown for a ninth-most 1,487 yards and 12 touchdowns to five interceptions across Pittsburgh’s 4-2 start to the season, having been reunited with former Packers coach McCarthy following Mike Tomlin’s exit. His quest to win an elusive second Super Bowl ring may not have materialised as planned, but he is at peace with what awaits at the end of his 22nd campaign.
“I’ve given a lot to this game, the game has given me a lot in return. I’ve got zero qualms about this being the end, zero fears about what’s next. I’m just trying to live in the moment and enjoy this time with these guys.”
Rodgers has long embraced opportunities to reach different corners of the world through football, last year being a leading advocate for Pittsburgh’s historic appearance in Dublin and now preparing to be part of another milestone for the NFL in France.
“There’s definitely only one moment in France,” he said. “I’m going to enjoy this for the next couple of days. It’s fun to be out here.
“It’s fun to be a part of the first. As you get older you don’t get a lot of firsts. To be in the first game in Paris is special.
“That’s part of the game; that’s the beauty of the game. It’s going to keep on rolling. You’re going to be here for a short time. You’ve got to enjoy it. Because you never know when it’s going to be done. We’ve all been blessed.
“I’m just thankful for the game and the places it’s taken me. We’ve been to a lot of different countries now to play games.”
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It is a welcome return to these shores for Rodgers, who recalled the time he was mobbed by Packers fans after entering the WOS Bar during a previous trip to Paris.
He and the Steelers landed in the French capital on just Friday morning following a red-eye flight from Pittsburgh, while the Saints came into town on Monday as the designated home team.
“I’ve played in three countries now, and each of them we’ve left on Thursday early evening. Would have been nice one time to come over on a Monday,” he said.
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