Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst speaks to the press at the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
GREEN BAY, WI (WSAU) – The Green Bay Packers had a difficult season overall in 2021, and according to a recent report, Aaron Rodgers tried to have Brian Gutekunst removed as the team’s general manager or be traded.
According to Matt Schneidman of The Athletic, early in the 2021 offseason, Rodgers’ agent, David Dunn, called Packers president Mark Murphy and asked him to either fire Gutekunst or move the then-reigning NFL MVP.
When Schneidman reached out to Rodgers about this issue, the quarterback sent him to his agent, who was unavailable for comment.
After the first round of the 2021 draft, Gutekunst told reporters that the Packers “no would not be trading Aaron Rodgers,” rejecting the star quarterback’s desire.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Rodgers was “so disgruntled” with the Packers management that he didn’t want to rejoin the team, according to reports made hours before the 2021 draft began.
To address Rodgers’ concerns, Gutekunst, Murphy, and head coach Matt LaFleur reportedly made separate trips to meet with him that summer.
After a recent training-camp press conference, Rodgers told Schneidman that communication between himself and Gutekunst had improved significantly, but it “still wasn’t anywhere near what I’ve already enjoyed here with the Jets in just a few short weeks.”
Former Packer Davante Adams requested to be traded and eventually signed with the Las Vegas Raiders, according to Rodgers, who told The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman that he thought the Packers’ offer to Adams was much below what he deserved.
“They offered him less money than Christian Kirk [$18 million per year] and [Adams] is going, ‘Are you serious right now? I’m the best receiver in the league, and you’re gonna offer me less than Christian Kirk?'” Rodgers said. “With all due respect, he’s not on Davante’s level.”
Adams claimed during a podcast appearance for I Am Athlete that the Packers’ initial offer to him before the 2021 season was for less than $20 million per year.
Brian Gutekunst is now in his sixth season as GM. He’s been with the franchise since 1998 after being hired as a scout.
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