Rodgers wins MVP for 2nd straight season, says he'll decide on future soon
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was named the 2021 NFL MVP on Thursday.
Rodgers becomes the first player to earn back-to-back MVPs since Peyton Manning did it in 2008 and 2009.
The 38-year-old has now surpassed Tom Brady and Green Bay legend Brett Favre, among others, with his fourth MVP award. He trails only Manning, who won it five times.
He took 39 of 50 votes to win the MVP honor. Brady finished runner-up with 10 votes, while Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp received one vote.
Rodgers thanked Packers president Mark Murphy, general manager Brian Gutekunst, executive Russ Ball, head coach Matt LaFleur, and his teammates after winning the award. He dedicated it to the late Ted Thompson, who drafted Rodgers in 2005, and producer Maura Mandt.
After an offseason filled with uncertainty over his future in Green Bay, Rodgers threw 37 touchdowns to just four interceptions for a league-high 111.9 passer rating as the Packers finished with the NFC's top record. However, Rodgers and the Packers were unable to make noise in the postseason, losing in the divisional round to the San Francisco 49ers.
Rodgers reiterated his desire to consider his future in the coming offseason, though he plans to come to a decision soon.
"I'm sure that decision is coming in the near future. I'm not going to keep a lot of people waiting," Rodgers said following the ceremony, according to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Rodgers told NFL Network's Taylor Bisciotti he's had "good conversations" with the Packers recently.
"I don't fear retirement. I don't fear moving on," Rodgers said, according to The Green Bay Press-Gazette's Ryan Wood. "I'm very proud of what I've accomplished, proud that I've accomplished it in Green Bay over the last 17 years, and excited about the future - whatever that ends up looking like."
Rodgers has played some of his best football over the last two seasons. His 85 touchdowns lead all quarterbacks since 2020, while his 26 wins are tied for the most.