Packers Running Back A.J. Dillon Knows The Only Certainty Is Uncertainty

Green Bay Packers running back A.J. Dillon has quickly become a fan favorite throughout the state of Wisconsin.

Dillon’s beloved in beautiful Door County, where he was given the key to the county in Nov., 2021. He’s extremely active and involved in the Green Bay community. Dillon’s wife, Gabrielle, is from Wisconsin. And the battering ram style of football he plays fits well with the blue collar Wisconsites he plays in front of.

As Dillon readies for his fourth season in Green Bay, though, he knows it could be his last as a Packer.

Dillon will become an unrestricted free agent in March, 2024, and there’s been little discussion on a contract extension between his camp and the Packers. Pro Bowl running back Aaron Jones is also under contract for $12 million — and carries a $17.7 million cap hit — in 2024.

Instead of sweating the uncertainty, though, Dillon is trying to embrace it.

“I don’t feel like I’m auditioning,” Dillon said during Green Bay’s mini-camp Tuesday. “I don’t feel like I’m trying to prove anything. I think that I’ve put enough out there on tape that I can obviously play at this level and play at a very high level.

“My focus is just going out there and putting the team in the best position to win and whoever makes the decision on my future, hopefully they want me. And if they don’t, I’m going to do my thing wherever. That’s just the reality of this year for me and a bunch of guys in this locker room. It’s just my first time going through it.”

Dillon has rushed for nearly 1,600 yards, caught 62 passes and had 14 total touchdowns over the last two seasons. In that time, he hasn’t missed a game and he’s become a true threat in the passing game.

The biggest knock on Dillon is a lack of explosive plays. Dillon has just one 100-yard rushing game in his career, and that came during his rookie season of 2020.

Dillon led the Packers in rushing in 2021 with 803 yards and averaged 4.3 yards per carry. Last year, those totals dipped to 770 yards and 4.1 yards per attempt.

“Last year I kind of got caught up in trying to be perfect,” he said.

Dillon counts $1.681 million against the salary cap this season, but is likely to receive a contract at least four times that number next season. For now, he’s trying not to think about the fact this could be his last season as a Packer.

“I think I’m a lot more calm and a lot more composed about it really,” Dillon said. “And I realize that I don’t really control the situation, to an extent, at least. So, I’m just going to go play ball and I’m not putting any extra stress on it. I’m just going to try and enjoy every minute of it.”

Jones, who’s entering his seventh season, has been through multiple contract dealings with Packer brass. In fact, Jones agreed to have his salary reduced in 2023.

Jones has been a mentor, of sorts, to Dillon the last three years. And he’s telling his younger teammate to simply do what he’s always done.

“I just tell him to go out there and play ball like he’s always played,” Jones said. “Don’t leave any boxes unchecked. Make the most of every opportunity. The ball’s never fully in your court, but you want to make the decision hard for them. So make sure to leave everything out there so when it comes time to get back to the table, you gave them no reason not to want you.”

Dillon hopes the Packers eventually want him as much as he wants them.

Dillon says he plans to call Wisconsin home after his football days are done. He already has a unique bond with the fan base that few other Packers ever achieve.

And staying where he’s beloved would be ideal.

Whether it’s realistic remains to be seen.

“I wouldn’t say I’m surprised about how things have gone with the fans,” Dillon said. “It’s not like I planned on it or that I was going out into the community to do things to become Mr. Wisconsin. It just happened.

“It’s a genuine thing, man. I love being out here. I love the Green Bay community, Milwaukee, obviously Door County. I’ve been blessed to come here and have people welcome me with open arms. I made a lot of great relationships and it’s worked out fantastic.

“It’s a genuine thing between me and everybody I’ve had interactions with throughout the state. It’s hard sometimes for people to distinguish the difference between Green Bay and the Green Bay Packers. I have that relationship with Green Bay, regardless of the Packers.”