Aaron Rodgers at 40 - PICTURE SPECIAL: Drafted by the Packers in New York in 2005, he won a Super Bowl and four MVP awards in Green Bay before a Jets move tarnished so far by THAT Achilles injury

Aaron Rodgers was born on December 2, 1983 in the city of Chico, California. His father played football at the college level as an offensive lineman. While moving throughout northern California and Oregon, Rodgers took part in multiple sports including baseball, soccer, basketball and - of course - American football

The family moved back to Chico in 1997 and Rodgers attended Pleasant Valley High School. There, he started as the team's quarterback for two seasons - setting school records for touchdowns in a game and and accumulating 4,421 passing yards.

Despite an accomplished career in high school, Rodgers was not well recruited by colleges - only receiving an offer from the University of Illinois. He passed, choosing the JUCO route instead and enrolling in Butte College in California.

After finding success at Butte, Rodgers transferred to Cal and became a star. Within five games of arrival, Rodgers was named the starter and beat Illinois in his first game. He also led the Golden Bears to an upset over No. 3 USC - building a lead before being taken out in the first half with injury. Cal finished the year 8-6 with an Insight Bowl win over Virginia Tech.

2004 was a masterstroke of a year for Rodgers. He led Cal to a 10-1 regular season record - with the only blemish being a close 23-17 loss at rivals No. 1 USC. The Golden Bears rebounded to finish the regular season ranked No. 4 and Rodgers was carried off the field after the last home game of the season: a 41-6 demolition of cross-bay rivals Stanford in 'The Big Game'.

Despite their success, Cal was passed over for a Rose Bowl berth by Texas. Rodgers and Cal had to settle for the Holiday Bowl and lost to No. 20 Texas Tech 45-31. The Golden Bears finished the season at No. 9 and Rodgers declared for the NFL Draft.

Rodgers (third left) was expected to be selected high in the 2005 NFL Draft but scouts believed that the system he played in at California may have inflated his stats and that in the pros, he would require a much bigger adjustment.

But the draft turned into a nightmare for Rodgers. His favorite team growing up, the San Francisco 49ers had the first pick and the QB believed they would select him. Instead, Alex Smith was taken first overall. As the picks ticked by, images of Rodgers looking bewildered and disappointed became reality TV gold as the college star kept slipping down the draft board.

Eventually, Rodgers was selected 24th overall - heading from the sun of California to the frozen tundra of Green Bay and the Packers. It was a surprising decision at the time, considering that the Packers already had themselves a franchise QB.

Like it or not, the early part of Rodgers' career was defined by sitting and watching the game behind Brett Favre (4). From the 2005-2007 seasons, Rodgers saw minimal game time as the Packers were inconsistent under Favre and new head coach Mike McCarthy. The new coach improved the form of the Cal alum and primed him for when the moment came for his takeover.

In the spring of 2008, Favre retired - and then unretired. But the Packers were ready to move in a new direction with Rodgers and named him starter for the 2008 season. Immediately, Rodgers proved to be brilliant - tossing over 4,000 yards in his first season as a full-time starting quarterback. He was not able to return to the NFC title game like the year prior, finishing 6-10.

The wait for his first playoff appearance was not a long one. Rodgers was able to right the ship and went 11-5 in 2009 - reaching the Wild Card round. There, he met with the Arizona Cardinals - a team that would grow into a foe for him. Arizona came out victorious, winning 51-45 in overtime in what was the first - but not the last - playoff defeat for Rodgers.

But 2009 was a high point for Rodgers overall. He tossed 4,434 yards had 30 touchdowns and seven interceptions. For these marks, he was named to his first Pro Bowl - making an appearance in the game taking place in Miami, Florida.

If there was ever a year where Rodgers showed his stuff it was 2010. His raw statistics didn't win him any accolades and his 10-5 record wasn't much to write home about. But for the first time, he really shone in the playoffs. A close Wild Card win over the Philadelphia Eagles and a Divisional round blowout of the Atlanta Falcons set up a monumental NFC Championship game against the hated rival Chicago Bears. Rodgers tossed two picks, but won 21-14 to go to his first ever Super Bowl.

The Packers took care of business in Super Bowl XLV - defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers 31-25 to capture the team's fourth title. It was Rodgers' first - and so far, only - Super Bowl appearance. He completed 24 of 39 passes for 304 yards and three passing touchdowns - two to Greg Jennings and one to Jordy Nelson - and finishing with a passer rating of 111.5.

For his efforts, Rodgers was named the Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl XLV and took the traditional trip to Walt Disney World that is given out to those who take home the Super Bowl MVP award.

2011 saw the transition from Super Bowl MVP to league MVP. Rodgers took home his first such award after a monumental campaign. The Packers finished 14-1 as Rodgers set career highs for passing yards and yards-per-attempt. He also set the NFL record for the highest single-season passer rating of 122.5 which remains his highest mark to date.

Despite that dominant season, the Packers just couldn't advance in the playoffs. They fell in the divisional round to the New York Giants - who went on to win Super Bowl XLVI. The following season, the Packers met the same fate at the same stage. After going 11-5 in the 2012 season, the Packers beat the rival Minnesota Vikings in the Wild Card, then lost to the 49ers.

The next season was a disaster for Green Bay. After a strong 5-2 start, Rodgers was hit hard by Chicago's Shea McClellin and left the game in what would be a a 27-20 loss in Week 9. Rodgers was diagnosed with a fractured clavicle and missed Weeks 10-16 before triumphantly returning and beating the Bears for the NFC North crown. A playoff loss to the Niners followed.

Fully healed, Rodgers went out the following year and claimed his second NFL MVP award. Guiding Green Bay to a 12-4 record, he tossed for 4,381 yards, had a TD-INT ratio of 38-5, and was tied for the best record in the NFL. A calf injury late in the season didn't stop him from winning a Divisional matchup vs. the Dallas Cowboys to reach his second ever NFC title game.

Unbeknownst to Rodgers, this would mark a string of NFC Championship game appearances that all resulted in losses. After leading 19-7 over the Seattle Seahawks with over five minutes to go, Seattle's futility on offense finally subsided. Thanks in part to a poorly handled onside kick, the Seahawks took the lead before a Green Bay FG forced overtime. Seattle scored a deep touchdown pass on the very first drive of overtime to reach Super Bowl XLIX and Rodgers watched from the couch.

2015 was a mixed bag for Rodgers. It was the first time since 2008 that he played a full season but didn't lead the league in any statistical category. Green Bay struggled to a 10-6 record and made the playoffs. They advanced to a divisional round matchup against the Arizona Cardinals. Down 20-13 with five seconds to go from the 41 yard line, Rodgers dropped back, scrambled (above) and tossed a Hail Mary that was caught by Jeff Janis to tie the game. But Green Bay lost in overtime.

2016 marked another strong year and yet another NFC Championship game loss. Rodgers led the league in touchdowns for the first time in his career and set career highs in completions and attempts. After dispatching the Giants and Cowboys in the playoffs, the Packers met the Falcons in the NFC title match in the last game at the old Georgia Dome. Atlanta won 44-21.

2017 was the first time in three seasons that an injury limited Rodgers' playing time. A sack from Anthony Barr resulted in a broken collarbone that kept him out from October to mid-December. He only played 7 games and missed the playoffs.

Rodgers spent a good portion of the 2018 season dealing with a nagging knee injury that hampered his results throughout the year. The Packers hadn't had a losing record in ten years, but fell to 6-9-1 that season - missing the playoffs. Still, Rodgers managed to put up 4,442 yards, 25 touchdowns, and a career best mark of just two interceptions.

Rodgers suffered his third consecutive loss in an NFC Championship game in the 2019 season. Green Bay put up a 13-3 record - tied for the best in the conference. Rodgers had a slightly down season, but handled Seattle to set up a NFC title clash with the 49ers. Once again, Green Bay could not get the job done - losing 37-20 in Rodgers' back yard in the Bay Area.

Rodgers' futility in conference title games was repeated once again. He won the MVP award in the 2020 season - leading the league in completion percentage, passing TDs, and passer rating. But at home, a last-ditch attempt to beat Tom Brady and the eventual Super Bowl-winning Tampa Bay Buccaneers fell short. Rodgers ended his time in Green Bay 1-4 in NFC title games.

A second MVP trophy awaited Rodgers in 2021 - but the season was not without controversy. After claiming that he was 'immunized' against Covid-19, it was revealed that the QB wasn't vaccinated and went maskless in his interactions with teammates. He was fined an put on the league's Covid list to be benched. Still, he finished with over 4,000 yards and won his second consecutive MVP award - becoming the fifth player in league history to do so.

2022 was a trying season for both Rodgers and the Packers. Playing with a broken thumb, he tried willing his team to the playoffs after a sluggish start to the season. All that Green Bay needed to do in the final game of the season was beat the Detroit Lions and they'd make the playoffs. They lost 20-16 in Rodgers' final game in a Packers uniform at Lambeau Field.

The playoff loss was the final straw for Rodgers. After a long stay at a 'darkness retreat' and doing some deep self-reflection, Rodgers came to a decision not to retire just yet. On an episode of the Pat McAfee Show, he announced that he'd be coming back to the NFL - but wanted to move on from Green Bay and become a member of the New York Jets.

Rodgers got his wish and was traded to New York in the offseason. He was unveiled to the media for the first time as a Jet on April 26 and made no secret of targeting Super Bowl glory. Rodgers got his wish and was traded to New York in the offseason. He would receive all the pomp and circumstance that the occasion required - with his first game of the season being played on Monday Night Football.

But that game against the Buffalo Bills ended in disaster and took a shocking turn when, just four plays into his Jets career, he tore his Achilles tendon after being sacked by Leonard Floyd of the Bills. As Floyd tackled Rodgers into the ground, his foot planted on the MetLife turf and his Achilles tore 

Now, at the age of 40, Rodgers is testing his body's limits by trying to return to the NFL this season. He says that he is ahead of schedule in his rehab and believes that before the campaign is done and dusted, that he will be back on the field.