Okay, let’s talk about Aaron Rodgers, specifically his rookie year. Man, it feels like ages ago, but I remember it like it was yesterday.
So, picture this: It’s 2005. I got drafted by the Green Bay Packers, and at the time, I was the backup quarterback. You know who the starter was? Brett Favre. Yeah, the legend himself. Talk about pressure, right?
That entire season, I was on the sidelines, watching, learning, and waiting for my chance. We were not doing so great, 4-12 at this point, and I remember the preseason opener against the San Diego Chargers. Favre started, and then it was my turn. I stepped onto that field, heart pounding, ready to show what I could do.
- First NFL game ever – can you believe it?
- I completed like two out of seven passes.
- And to top it off, got sacked twice.
It wasn’t pretty. Honestly, I struggled through most of the preseason. But then came the game against the Tennessee Titans. I remember converting two third downs, feeling a bit more in the groove. And then, the highlight: I threw a touchdown pass to our tight end, Ben Steele. It was a small victory, but man, did it feel good.
My time at college definitely helped prepare me. Even though I wasn’t heavily recruited coming out of Pleasant Valley High School, I got to play at Butte College for a year before transferring to the University of California in 2003. Those experiences shaped me, taught me how to handle pressure, and how to keep pushing even when things got tough.
When I finally got to start as a quarterback for the Packers in 2008, we only won six games. But I did put up 4.
Those early days were rough, no doubt. But looking back, they were essential. They taught me resilience, patience, and the importance of always being ready for your moment. I carried those lessons with me throughout my career. And hey, all these years later, I’ve even managed to join the ranks of quarterbacks with over 500 touchdown passes. It’s been a wild ride, and it all started with those shaky first steps.
There were a couple of games there, getting beat up, but never folding to the pressure.
So yeah, that’s my story about being a rookie. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was real, and it was the start of something incredible.
