Will Packers Quarterback Aaron Rodgers Follow Nathaniel Hackett To The Denver Broncos?

Nathaniel Hackett is headed to the Denver Broncos.

Is Aaron Rodgers next?

Hackett, the Green Bay Packers’ offensive coordinator since 2019, will be named the new head coach in Denver, according to the NFL Network.

Hackett and Packers’ quarterback Aaron Rodgers are extremely tight. And with Rodgers potentially looking to leave Green Bay this offseason, Denver now becomes a potential frontrunner for the reigning MVP’s services.

“I’m gonna take some time and have conversations with the folks around here and then take some time away and make a decision obviously before free agency or anything kind of gets going on that front,” Rodgers said after Green Bay’s loss to San Francisco in the divisional playoffs on Jan. 22. “I’ll have the conversations with Brian in the next week or so and get a little bit more clarity and think about my own future and how much longer I want to keep doing this.”

Denver has been linked as a possible destination for Rodgers since he held out of Green Bay before the 2021 season. Rodgers eventually reported to the Packers at the start of training camp after the team voided the final year of his contract (2023) and traded for his pal, wide receiver Randall Cobb.

The Packers will be in salary cap hell next season, as their top-51 players currently put them $50.2 million over the 2022 cap, according to overthecap.com. Rodgers has a cap hit of $46.15 million next year, so the easiest way for Green Bay to get under the cap would be trading their veteran quarterback.

Denver, a team that has several young, gifted players on offense and finished No. 3 in total defense this season, has always been linked to Rodgers. And now, after the hiring of Hackett, that speculation will only intensify.

Hackett, 42, led one of the NFL’s top offenses in Green Bay the last three seasons. The Packers ranked just 18^th in total offense in 2019, but finished fifth in 2020 and 10^th this season.

Green Bay also went 39-10 over the last three seasons, which helped Hackett land his first head coaching job. Now, the question becomes will the Packers’ future Hall of Fame quarterback be the next one headed to the Mile High City?