Aaron Rodgers once revealed psychedelic mushrooms contributed to his back-to-back NFL MVP

Just before the COVID pandemic in 2020, NY Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers travelled to Peru with his then-girlfriend, Danica Patrick. During his visit, he came across a traditional plant-based drink called 'ayahuasca', a herbal drink prepared by a shaman or healer from ingredients that have hallucinating effects.

In an appearance on the Aubrey Marcus Podcast in August 2022, Rodgers revealed that before trying out the ayahuasca treatment, he experienced positive results from a psychedelic mushroom on a beach, which he described as

“One of the best days of [his] life,”

Expecting a similar result, Rodgers visited Peru after a recommendation from friend Jordan Russell during a golf game. Russell visited the Temple of the Way of Light in Iquitos, Peru and recommended the same to A-Rod. Rodgers was pleased to see the results of his visit as he expressed his feelings on consuming ayahuasca. He said,

"I don't think it's a coincidence. I really don't. I don't really believe in coincidences at this point. It's the universe bringing things to happen when they're supposed to happen.”

The modern-day gunslinger believes that the introduction of ayahuasca was no mere coincidence, probably hinting at the ramifications of the treatments. After his initial visit, his performance peaked again as he won two consecutive NFL MVP awards in 2021 and 2022. The NFL has allowed the consumption of the ayahuasca since it doesn’t violate its policies.

Aaron Rodgers advocates for the legalization of the psychedelics

Since then, the future Hall of Famer has been one of the biggest advocates of the legalization of psychedelics. He often quotes the successful seasons he had with the Packers to strengthen his case.

“There's signs and synchronicities all around us at all times if we're awake enough to see them and to take them in and to listen to our intuition when it's speaking to us or pounding us in the head saying, 'Hey dummy, this is what you're supposed to be doing.'”

Aubrey Marcus again invited the 41-year-old to the Psychedelic Science Conference in Denver, Colorado, in 2023.

He said, “It’s going to be hard to cancel me because the previous year [in 2019] – 26 touchdowns, four interceptions, we had a good season,” Rodgers added, “Ayahuasca – 48 touchdowns, five interceptions, MVP. What are you gonna say?”

Besides ayahuasca, the 4x MVP has also advocated for the legalization of the usage of psilocybin.