Aaron Rodgers and Bill Belichick certainly seem to hold one another in high regard. Before their Week 4 meeting, Rodgers referred to Belichick as “the best coach in the history of the game.”
And after the Packers’ 27-24 overtime win, Rodgers enjoyed a lengthy chat with Belichick. During that conversation, Belichick told Rodgers that the Packers won because the quarterback was “making throws only Rodgers can make.”
But as Rodgers explained on “The Pat McAfee Show” Tuesday, Belichick did something even more meaningful to him before the Week 4 matchup. The veteran coach took time to briefly speak with Rodgers before the contest began.
“The thing that touched me that I really appreciated was him coming over pregame,” Rodgers said. “Because postgame, you’re always going to have a moment with the other quarterback or head coach, but there’s so many cameras and microphones, it’s hard to have a real conversation.
“But he stopped over when we just started our throwing lines and got to chat for 45 seconds or a minute, and that was really meaningful because there’s no cameras around, there’s no microphones. Just being able to have a good conversation, share mutual respect and admiration like that was really cool.”
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Rodgers continued to sing Belichick’s praises in his interview with McAfee. He called Belichick “a phenomenal coach” and was quick to credit the Patriots for keeping the game close despite being forced to use third-string quarterback Bailey Zappe for most of the game.
Those guys were ready to play and they shut us down in the first half and kept us out of the rhythm. The second half we got things rolling and started to put some things together, hit some plays, finally hit some throws and looked kind of more like ourselves. But I’ve got so much respect for Bill.
Rodgers further explained that Belichick is one of a few coaches that he has kept in touch with over the course of his career. The 38-year-old has been in the NFL for a while and knows many, but acknowledged that he only spends time with a handful of them.
“I think there’s a lot of coaches like that, maybe a half dozen or so that I’ve met up with in the offseasons, or talked to postgame that you have a lot of respect for, you’ve gone against,” he said.
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And Rodgers made it clear that he doesn’t just respect Belichick. He is a big-time fan of the coach and how he has found success in the NFL.
“Bill is such a legend,” Rodgers said. “He started coaching long before I got into the league. I knew who he was, obviously an incredible success.
“But just being ahead of the curve the way he has with his defensive styles and innovation. He’s just a fantastic, fantastic coach.”
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