Aaron Rodgers's Ode to Bill Belichick
Aaron Rodgers remembers.
The last two times he competed against Bill Belichick's New England Patriots, the legendary head coach sought him out after the game on the field. Appearing on the Pat McAfee Show for the second time this week, the New York Jets' future Hall-of-Fame quarterback spoke about his connection with the Patriots' outgoing coach.
"We played him in 2018 and 2022 and both times he waited to make sure that he saw me after the game and I just thought that was one of the classiest things ever. I have so much respect for him doing that," said Rodgers.
Both of those games pre-date Rodgers's time with the Jets, but have apparently left a lasting impression on the 40-year-old field general.
"In 2022, I actually was doing an interview on the field after we beat him in a game that went back and forth and Bill waited until my interview ended," said Rodgers.
Rupturing his Achilles only four snaps into his first game as a Jet, Rodgers never had the pleasure of facing Belichick while wearing Green & White. As show host Pat McAfee noted, however, Rodgers was "the last human that he talked to on the field as New England Patriots' head coach." Rodgers and Belichick were photographed while having a conversation prior to the Jets' Week 18 victory on January 7.
"Bill did things his own way and had a ton of success with it," said Rodgers. "People tried to copy it and couldn't do it. I think that's the greatest compliment you can give Bill besides the respect of competing against him."
Belichick presided over six Super Bowl titles during his 24 seasons on the Patriots' sideline, including multiple torturous victories against Gang Green. Sunday's 17-3 win snapped the Jets' 15-game losing streak against Belichick and his Pats.
"One of my favorite things about Bill is his love for the game," said Rodgers.
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