Aaron Rodgers Shares Prayers for Teammates, Russell Wilson; Green Bay Packers QB Reveals 'Purpose' in Life

By Mitch de Leon
Aaron Rodgers' Exit
Green Bay Packers starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers runs off Lambeau Field into the tunnel amid a standing ovation. Relux/Flickr CC

The Green Bay Packers finished the NFL season with a disappointing performance. With the weight gain problems of Eddie Lacy and the injuries of Jordy Nelson, quarterback Aaron Rodgers was left alone to lead the football team. Amid the frustration and criticism, however, the quarterback remained a positive source of strength for the Green Bay Packers. Opening up about his personal beliefs, Olivia Munn's beau shared what he prays for as well as the things he believe that are more important than football.

Unlike some NFL stars, such as Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, Rodgers is not quite as vocal about his faith. Among the football stars, his hold on his beliefs resembles the kind former Denver Broncos star Peyton Manning has on his faith. Moreover, Rodgers slams the idea that the results of football games are brought about by God to either reward or punish an individual.

"We say the Lord's prayer before and after every game," shared the Green Bay Packers star in an interview. He added, "There's a prayer circle in our locker room before every game. As a team, there's probably 40 of us who are holding hands saying 'Hey, God, keep us safe today and help us to win.' There's probably a team on the other side doing the same thing. Is God glorifying us when we win, punishing the other team?"

For his part, Rodgers shared that he offers thanks to the Lord for allowing him the opportunity to be part of a profession he so clearly loves. He said of his pre-game prayer, "Thanks that I'm here today. Thank you that I'm on this field today, that I'm healthy, and I get to do what I love."

Despite his remarkable performance in the gridiron, Rodgers believes that his purpose in life goes beyond football. According to the quarterback, the "greatest gift" he can give back to the world is to become a beacon of hope and positivity to the people around him. Moreover, he aims to unite everyone by spreading the love - the type that goes to a "deeper" level.

Rodgers said, "The greatest gift I've been able to tap into the last decade of my life is hope...hope for my life, for my friends' lives, for an afterlife. Something happens. That's amazing, magical and spiritual and unknowable." He added, "What am I doing here? I'm here to love people in a deeper level, realize the connectedness that we have, the closeness everybody that breathes oxygen on this earth has to each other. There's a responsibility that comes with that."

In 2014, Rodgers won the Bart Starr Award. This recognition is given to NFL stars who stand out in the league regarding character and leadership skills. Other quarterbacks who also won the award include Manning of the Denver Broncos, Drew Bees of the New Orleans Saints and Kurt Warner of the Arizona Cardinals.

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