Aaron Rodgers writes in goodbye to the Packers that Green Bay will 'always have my heart'
Aaron Rodgers will be introduced in the coming days as the new quarterback of the New York Jets.
But on this day, the longtime Packers quarterback wanted to express his appreciation for the franchise that drafted him as a 21-year-old out of California in 2005 when so many others famously passed on him.
"I’m not sure it’s possible to fully express the gratitude that I have to the Packers, our incredible fans, the state of Wisconsin, the thousands of players that I crossed paths with, the incredible men and women who work for the organization, and the amazing people who I got to meet along the way, in one post with 10 pictures, but I hope you read this and feel my heart and soul, filled with love, joy, and peace about my time in green and gold," Rodgers wrote on his Instagram account early Tuesday evening.
Rodgers, 39, has been traded to the New York Jets for draft compensation, ending his 18-year run with the Packers. He's set numerous franchise records, including most touchdown passes (475), won four MVPs as he authored a first-ballot Hall of Fame career and led the Packers to a Super Bowl in his third year as the starter.
The photos he highlighted in his post included images of him after he was drafted with then-general manager Ted Thompson, of him taking part in the training camp bicycle tradition with a young fan, of him with the Lombardi Trophy after the Packers won Super Bowl XLV as well as a series of images with some of his closest friends and former teammates such as David Bakhtiari, Randall Cobb, Jordy Nelson, Davante Adams, Mason Crosby and John Kuhn.
Rodgers wrote that during his near two-decade run with the Packers he's made lifelong friends and "memories that will last a lifetime."
He referenced Thompson, Mike McCarthy, his head coach from 2006-18, and Matt LaFleur, his head coach the last four years, as well as former and current front office members such as Bob Harlan, Russ Ball, Mark Murphy and Brian Gutekunst.
Rodgers thanked his quarterback coaches over the years and named equipment and training staff as well as public relations members.
He also showed his gratitude for Packers fans and all of his teammates.
"This is not the end for us, I will see you again Green Bay, you’ll always have my heart," Rodgers wrote.
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Aaron Rodgers gives heartfelt goodbye to Packers in Instagram post
