"Aaron Rodgers: Enigma" - A Sportsish Review
Aaron Rodgers' football legacy is undeniable. The quarterback spent 18 years with the Green Bay Packers, the team that drafted him to take over once Brett Favre stepped down. With undeniably big shoes to fill, Rodgers still rose to the occasion and had a record-breaking career with the team. While he became a franchise hero with the Packers, it started to feel as if he had already accomplished as much as possible with the team. Four MVP titles, one Super Bowl win, and several broken records later, he decided to leave Green Bay to join the New York Jets, an unexpected choice that shocked the football world.
Clay Matthews & Aaron Rodgers as Super Bowl Champions (AP Photo)
Nevertheless, he was ready to move on and reclaim the world championship again, now with a newfound mentality and a reignited flame. However, those dreams extinguished quickly when he sustained a season-ending injury during his fourth play in the Jets' season-opening game. Getting such a qualified QB join their ranks seemed like a beacon of hope for a franchise that had been severely struggling in previous years, yet it quickly turned into a nightmare scenario; the "this could finally be our year" mantra soon regressed to a "perhaps next year" mentality amongst the fans as quickly as it had left. This crucial event in Rodgers's career is where his new documentary begins, following his impressive recovery path while delving into his past and how it all started for him. The Netflix docuseries perfectly captures how his career has impacted his personal life and vice versa.
As a player, his career has been filled with milestones and achievements that most players can only dream of obtaining. Yet, the recognition of his successes has brought on an incessant amount of unwanted attention to his personal life. The media have always categorized Rodgers under several labels, including "polarizing," "outspoken," and "controversial." As one outlet describes him in the documentary: "Aaron Rodgers ain't for everybody." However, the series brilliantly pulls back the curtains to show what happens behind the scenes, uncovering the origin of all these moments that have led him to be unwillingly put into these boxes. His reluctance to share too much personal information while also opening up about his spiritual path is a fine line he has juggled in recent years, which has only been used by the media and public to weaponize it against him when his career has not been up to par.
Sure, we've all gotten to see Aaron go on the Pat McAfee show and talk about his most recent ayahuasca experience, but that is just the tip of the iceberg of the personal work he's been doing for years to try and detach himself from the chains of his past that are only holding him back, both mentally and spiritually. As he mentions repeatedly during the documentary, he is a perfectionist, so the series of obstacles and setbacks he has faced throughout his life have only fueled him to go harder. Whether it was not getting a football scholarship, not getting drafted quickly enough, or losing out on a season that was supposed to be his momentous comeback, Aaron doesn't shy away from the uncomfortable. Instead, he goes in harder.
Aaron Rodgers in Enigma (Netflix)
“There’s a difference between discomfort and pain. Discomfort is just the process of fighting through the sensation you’re dealing with, and I feel like I’ve always been able to kind of push through.”
The documentary effectively reveals new layers of the athlete throughout three episodes, gradually uncovering different aspects of his character until we reach the core of his essence—what truly drives him and why. Often labeled as complicated, unorthodox in his methods, and misunderstood, he is finally presented as he really is: a human being trying to navigate life like the rest of us. The main difference is that he operates on a larger stage, with a spotlight constantly illuminating his every move and ready to scrutinize his choices. While he may seem enigmatic to some, this documentary shows that he has been clear about who he is; the world has been too judgmental to accept his truth.
Aaron Rodgers as a New York Jet (AP Photo)
There's no denying some of his methods might be out of the ordinary, but in the end, what makes anyone eligible to question how a person wants to find their path? When is the wheel gonna stop spinning and let him enjoy the ride without the expectations to keep justifying himself? As he put it best, "I don't feel like I have to prove anything to anybody but myself at this point, which is a great place to be." And if he's okay with finally being in that place, the rest of the world should catch up too.