"A lot of my time was spent walking around": When Aaron Rodgers highlighted his favorite Brett Favre responsibility as a rookie

NFL great Aaron Rodgers spent the first three years of his long career serving as the backup to another legend, Brett Favre, at the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers only played seven games, since being drafted in 2005, before he eventually became a starter in 2008.

In spite of few opportunities as a rookie, Rodgers had a special task assigned by his former QB coach, Darrell Bevell.

During an interview with ESPN in December 2020, the 40-year-old turned back the pages to dig into his memory and reveal an anecdote featuring Brett Favre. He narrated:

“A lot of my time was spent walking around, looking for Favrey," Rodgers recalled. "That was one of my responsibilities as a rookie was trying to figure out where Favrey was at sometimes and head into the back to see where he was he was hanging out and say, 'Hey, Coach Bevell wants you.'"

Favre was a colorful personality, particularly during the final years of his playing career, who often liked to do things his own way. Rodgers, on the other hand, was a quiet rookie who diligently followed instructions.

It’s well documented that Rodgers and Favre didn’t share the warmest relationship, but Rodgers maintains that he had nothing but respect for Favre. In a 2010 interview with Graham Bensinger, a younger Rodgers said:

"But I can tell you on my side there was nothing but cheerleading and hard work, and I kept my mouth shut. And the other feelings, I think you might have to ask him about."

Aaron Rodgers suffers the fate of Brett Favre

Rodgers understood why Favre might have been upset. The Packers drafted Rodgers in the first round in 2005 as a backup quarterback, signaling that he was likely being groomed as Favre’s successor.

While Favre led the Packers to a combined 12-20 record in 2005 and 2006, he peaked in 2007, taking the team to the NFC Championship Game.

Despite his strong performance, Favre was let go, and a young Rodgers stepped in as the starter in 2008. By 2011, Rodgers had led the Packers to their fourth Super Bowl victory — the team’s first since 1997.

Ironically, almost 12 years after Favre’s departure to the Jets, history repeated itself. This time, Rodgers was in Favre’s position, with Jordan Love as the rookie quarterback waiting in the wings. After spending three seasons on the bench as a backup, Love got his chance when a frustrated Rodgers also left for the Jets.

While the Jets missed the postseason, Love led the Packers back to the playoffs in 2024.