The foregone conclusion became reality Saturday night at the NFL Honors Program on the eve of Super Bowl LV, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was named the National Football League’s Most Valuable Player for 2020.
Rodgers, at 37, put together his most prolific statistical season in leading the Packers to a second straight NFC Championship Game. He led the league with 48 touchdown passes, against just five interceptions. His season ending passer rating of 121.5 was the second best in NFL history, behind the 122.1 record he posted during his first MVP season in 2011. Throw in MVP number 2 in 2014 and Rodgers is now joining even more exclusive company.
He becomes just the sixth player to win the award more than twice, joining Brett Favre, Johnny Unitas, Jim Brown, Tom Brady and Peyton Manning who has five MVP titles to his credit. Rodgers received 44 of the 50 votes from the Associated Press voters. Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen received 4 and Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes, the 2018 winner, received two.
The honors program is typically held in a lavish auditorium, but not this year as Rodgers, donning a t-shirt, delivered his acceptance speech via video:
Did we hear that right? Rodgers? Engaged?
Aaron let the cat out of the bag alright as he and actress Shailene Woodley are expected to tie the knot in the future. News of their relationship just came to light since the end of the season.
More news was also breaking Super Bowl morning as ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Rodgers and the Packers are negotiating a contract extension that could go beyond the current completion of his existing deal in 2023.