Aaron Rodgers is getting ready to play what many are assuming will be his final NFL season after he signed a one-year deal during the offseason to return to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The 42-year-old quarterback expressed excitement about the chapter of his life that will follow his playing career in a recent interview with Mad Dog Sports Radio's Adam Schein.
In particular, Rodgers is looking forward to starting a family, and expressed hope he and his wife would be in the process of doing so by this time next year.
"I'm hopefully going to be supporting my pregnant wife because we're going to start a family and I am not going to be making a lot of appearances or statements," Rodgers told Schein. "And I’m looking forward to a life of quiet after 22
years in the pros and three in college and getting my body healed up and working on a family. That’s what I’m looking forward to."
Schein sought clarification from Rodgers about whether anything was imminent or if he was simply looking into the proverbial "crystal ball" when assessing his future.
"I'm talking about I'm hoping that I have a pregnant wife by next [year] this time," Rodgers reiterated.
Rodgers also elaborated that his desire to start a family had been spurred, in part, by his recent reconnection with his family, from whom he had previously been estranged.
"I'm definitely excited about it," Rodgers said when addressing the prospect of starting a family. "I mean, being back in my family's lives, I'm having a lot of fun being Uncle Aaron. I have a few godkids that I'm involved with, but being Uncle Aaron to my brother's kids has been a lot of fun."
"And the more I'm around them, the more I get excited, and so does the wife, about having some of our own," he added. "So, I'm excited for that. I can't wait for that next chapter of life and all that that entails, and sleepless nights and crying babies and changing diapers and all those things, I'm looking forward to all of it."
Rodgers has typically kept information about his wife, who he has described as a "private person," close to the vest. As such, it isn't clear whether the 42-year-old quarterback will provide any information if or when they do have a child, especially considering his stated desire to remain out of the public eye following his playing career.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Steelers' Aaron Rodgers details main goal for his eventual retirement
