Aaron Rodgers made it crystal clear this Friday: he is not a fan of the travel plans NFL teams use for international games. After arriving in France for Sunday’s showdown against the Saints, Rodgers spoke out about what he’s experienced in his previous three international trips.
Rodgers’ International Experience Has Him Frustrated
The NFL’s international push started way back in 2007, but Rodgers didn’t play a game outside the U.S. until 2022. This upcoming game will mark his fourth in a third different country. And he’s got a definite opinion on how teams handle it.
“I’ve played in three countries now,” Rodgers told reporters. “In each of them, we’ve left on Thursday early evening. It would have been nice one time to come over on a Monday.”
He even name-dropped specific examples of these late departures: the Packers in London back in 2022, the Jets in London in 2024, and the Steelers in Ireland in 2024, plus the Vikings traveling to Paris in two days. Clearly, this is a pattern he’s seen across multiple teams.
Why This Travel Plan Is A High-Stakes Gamble
It’s easy to just dismiss a player’s travel preferences, but the NFL’s approach isn’t random. Teams make these international travel plans based on what they see as the “perceived best interests of the organization.” The big goal? Get a win, obviously, but also to make sure the team can keep winning once they’re back home.
But here’s the kicker: sometimes this late-arrival strategy works, and sometimes, it absolutely doesn’t. Just look at the Rams in their Week 1 Australia game, where the plan didn’t pan out. Rodgers’ track record of four foreign games, all with this same Thursday evening departure, suggests he’s seen enough to form a strong opinion on whether this approach truly serves those “best interests.”
For Rodgers, this upcoming game in France against the Saints will be his fourth foreign game. All eyes will be on how he and his team perform, especially given his candid comments on their travel setup. Will this particular Thursday departure work out, or will it just add more fuel to his “wish we came on a Monday” fire?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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