FOXBOROUGH, Mass — Aaron Rodgers has an interesting connection to one member of the New England Patriots coaching staff.
Rodgers, who entered the league in 2005, was in the same draft class as Patriots outside linebackers coach Mike Smith.
“It blows my mind,” Smith said. “Aaron Rodgers is still playing. It’s like, what the heck? That’s just credit to him. You know, I mean guys are that smart at whatever position you get, the older you get, that’s what you have to really rely on. And you know, student of the game, all that type stuff. And so yeah, it’s, that’s impressive.”
Rodgers was the 24th overall pick that year, being taken by the Green Bay Packers. As for Smith, he was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the seventh round. But Smith has spent
the last 17 years on the other side of the ball, hanging up his cleats in 2008 due to injuries. Rodgers, on the other hand, is still playing, though he has signaled that 2026 will be his final season.
“I still remember a play when I was in Green Bay and we had the simulated pressure,” Smith said. “It was a good call and he threw like an 80-yard bomb on the dot, knew exactly where to throw it. And I remember asking, ‘How’d you know?’ He’s like, ‘You know, it’s a feeling.’
Smith said nothing has changed.
"That’s the type of guy that you got to prepare for," he continued. "Everybody says he can’t move as well. He’s still getting out on boots and obviously he’s not the same guy but he’s still Aaron Rodgers and he can still sling it and, and he’s still smart and it’s going to be a challenge.”
Patriots head caoch Mike Vrabel also had a funny reaction when asked abnout this interesting connection between the two.
"One guy had a better career than the other guy," he said with a smile. "But yeah, he's done it for a lot of years at a very high level, a Hall of Fame player. I guess it’s funny to think that they're the same age and they got drafted the same year."
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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Patriots Coach shares wild Aaron Rodgers draft-day connection
