Green Bay Packers

Brett Favre believes Aaron Rodgers will be back on the field next year ... and when he ultimately straps on his helmet and shoulder pads again -- the Packers legend tells TMZ Sports the QB will be "as good, if not better, than ever."

Of course, Favre says there's at least some chance Rodgers calls it a career after he snapped his Achilles during his Jets debut on Monday night ... but as a guy who's spent years around the signal-caller, Favre just doesn't see a way this is the end for Rodgers.

"I personally think that he will come back," Favre said. "I don't see him going out like this."

And, if and when he returns to the Big Apple, Favre has no doubts Rodgers will find success again.

In fact, Brett says he plans on reaching out to his former teammate soon to make sure the future Hall of Famer gets that message.

"It seemed to me from the outside looking in they had a good thing going there," Favre said of Rodgers' time in New York. "Just the vibe I was getting. If that's the case -- if he felt that way too, give it a shot. That's what I would tell him."

For Rodgers' part, he certainly seems like a guy that's not ready to quit ... just a day before he had surgery to repair his damaged leg, he wrote in an Instagram post that he "shall rise yet again."

Brett Favre is speaking out after months of silence ... and while he only briefly addressed the Mississippi welfare scandal, the Hall of Famer talked politics, flat out saying the U.S. was better off under President Trump.

"I think Donald was a non-political president, and I liked that about him," Favre told Jason Whitlock in a lengthy conversation Tuesday on the TV personality's "Fearless" podcast. "Was he perfect? Absolutely not. Am I perfect? Absolutely not. I'm flawed just like the rest of 'em. We're all flawed. But, I really felt like he had our country in a better place and really cared about our people in our country."

"Black, white, Hispanic, Asian -- you name it," the former Packers quarterback continued. "I think if you were an American citizen, he cared about you, first and foremost. I don't know if our current president has the same mentality."

It's no secret the NFL legend is a supporter of #45 ... something Brett told Jason has seriously hurt his checkbook.

"It's cost me money," Favre admitted.

The former Green Bay signal-caller also talked about one of the most polarizing issues in the country, transgender people ... a topic which Favre feels strongly about.

During the chat with Whitlock, he said, "To think that a young man who identifies as a girl, I don't understand -- just hear me out -- can go into a girl's bathroom and use the restroom with girls, and for us to think that's OK, I think is wrong. I'm sorry."

He went on to agree with Whitlock's opinion that transgender women shouldn't be allowed to compete against biological females in sporting events.

As for his alleged role in the Mississippi welfare scandal -- where he's been accused of working with government officials to obtain $5 million from welfare funds to build a volleyball facility at Southern Miss. -- Favre said he couldn't speak much about it due to a gag order.

He did say, though, he's looking forward to openly speaking about it all soon.

Life couldn't get any sweeter for Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens -- 'cause just days after the newlyweds tied the knot in Cabo, the NFL player signed with the Green Bay Packers!!

The 7-time Olympic medalist shared her reaction to the news on Friday ... posting a photo of her already draped in Packers merch as her new hubby inked his contract.

"So proud of you baby!" Biles said of the move. "Here’s to new beginnings! Year 6! LFG!"

Owens, who suited up for Texans from 2019 to 2022, is also hyped ... saying, "New beginnings. Perfect cap to an amazing week."

Of course, Owens is referring to his beautiful wedding last weekend ... which was as extravagant as they come.

The 26-year-old gymnast wore a gorgeous gown from famous designer Galia Lahav ... and Owens looked sharp with a beige suit and tie in front of family and friends.

The marital bliss comes 15 months after Owens proposed with a massive 3-carat diamond ring.

New marriage, new team, what's next -- a new baby?!?

Remember, Biles did previously mention Jonathan wants a "football team" of kids down the road.

Former NFL All-Pro Jimmy Graham was hit by a car during a bike ride earlier this week ... and, according to his buddy and former Green Bay Packers linebacker A.J. Hawk, the ex-tight end suffered a gnarly gash on his leg.

Hawk said on Wednesday's 'Pat McAfee Show' the terrifying incident went down in South Florida earlier this week ... when Graham was cruising on two wheels on Miami roadways.

Hawk revealed that during the ride, a car suddenly turned left ... and smashed into the former New Orleans Saints Pro Bowler.

Fortunately, it seems Graham escaped without significant injuries ... but Hawk said the 36-year-old did sustain a gnarly wound on his calf.

"He has a slice on his calf that looked like he had worms growing out of it," Hawk said. "It was so deep and all the stuff in there you could see. Now he has tons of stitches and all of that."

Graham addressed the wreck on his Instagram page shortly after Hawk broke the news ... saying he felt sore as hell -- almost as if he had just played in a Sunday NFL game.

"My body has certainly built up a callus for punishment over the years," he added. "I'll be fine. Stay safe out there."

Graham also shared a picture of a new racing bike -- insinuating the one he used in the accident was destroyed.

Of course, this is not the first time Graham has been involved in a near-death accident ... back in 2021, he was in a rollover car crash. Thankfully, he avoided serious injury there too.

Stay safe, Jimmy!!!

A trade for Aaron Rodgers does NOT make the Jets the favorite to win the AFC East ... at least, that's according to Hall of Famer Warren Moon, who tells TMZ Sports he's still got the Bills at the top of the division.

Don't get it twisted, Moon wasn't knocking New York's new signal-caller ... he just clearly believes Buffalo is that much more talented than the Jets still.

"They still have a great roster," Moon said of Buffalo.

The 66-year-old, though, did admit the Rodgers acquisition does certainly bring NY closer to the Bills at the top of what many are expecting to be a highly competitive AFC East in 2023.

But Moon wasn't ready to call the Jets legitimate Super Bowl contenders quite yet ... telling us he thinks the AFC is just too loaded this year.

"It's going to be tough on the Jets to win their division and get in the playoffs and advance," Moon said. "But Aaron Rodgers at least gives them a fighting chance to be able to do that."

Aaron Rodgers is finally getting his wish ... the NFL superstar is being traded to the New York Jets!!

The Packers will send the quarterback to NY in exchange for a bunch of draft picks ... according to Adam Schefter, the deal will include two second-rounders, one of which could turn into a 1st-rounder in 2024 if Rodgers plays 65 percent of the Jets' snaps this season.

Schefter reported Rodgers will switch from No. 12 to No. 8 when he officially arrives in New York.

The trade signals the end of a historic career in Green Bay for Rodgers, who after being picked in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft, piled up an insane resume.

He won four MVPs in 18 seasons, got a Super Bowl win, made 10 Pro Bowl teams, and earned All-Pro honors four times. He also piled up a career 147-75-1 record -- while throwing for 59,055 yards and 475 TDs.

His reign in Wisconsin, though, wasn't without drama ... he consistently butted heads with execs in the front office over personnel decisions and more -- especially at the end of his career ... leading to his eventual departure Monday.

But, New York players are no doubt thrilled he'll be wearing green and white this season ... because everyone from Sauce Gardner to Quinnen Williams to Garrett Wilson had been recruiting him like crazy this entire offseason.

Green Bay Packers superstar QB Aaron Rodgers seems to be one step closer to getting his wish of playing football in The Big Apple.

New York Jets General Manager Joe Douglas pretty much confirmed on Friday night that Rodgers would be wearing his team's Gang Green uniform, although no timeline was given for the potential trade.

Douglas made the announcement during a public appearance on stage with CBS NFL analyst and WFAN radio host Boomer Esiason, causing the crowd to go wild.

Check out video capturing the moment in which Esiason asked if Rodgers was going to join Gang Green, and Douglas bluntly replied, "He's gonna be here."

As we reported, The Packers and Jets have been haggling over a fair price for Rodgers during trade talks. Several weeks ago, Rodgers went on "The Pat McAfee Show" to say that he wanted out of Green Bay so he could move to Florham Park, New Jersey -- the site of the Jets Training Center.

Rodgers told McAfee, "My intention is to play for the New York Jets," but he also indicated he's gotten interest from other NFL teams.

He continued, "I haven't been holding anything up at this point. It's been compensation that the Packers are trying to get for me, and kinda digging their heels in."

If NFL general managers can't get a blockbuster trade to go through ... maybe some pretty rocks and colored gems can?!

Seems Aaron Rodgers is hoping that's the truth ... because as the Packers and Jets continue to struggle to complete a trade for the star quarterback -- he hit a rock store near Los Angeles to shop for some healing crystals that many believe could help turn talks around.

The 39-year-old was seen out at Topanga Rocks in Topanga, CA on Wednesday afternoon -- browsing through their crystal selection as he remains hopeful that he can be dealt from Green Bay to New York this offseason.

He was seen leaving the store with a small bag -- but it's unclear what was purchased.

Of course, in the spiritual world, there are several crystals that people think could help facilitate a Packers-Jets swap ... including citrine, which is thought to bring luck to its owner. Or, maybe he was simply just hunting for a stone that could help him deal with the anxiety of the uncertainty of it all.

Either way, Rodgers doesn't seem to be sweating things too much -- he was spotted out a coffee shop enjoying a drink with actor Jonathan Tucker just before making the pit stop at the rock shop ... and appeared to be doing just fine.

The Packers and Jets, meanwhile, are still haggling over what's a fair price for Rodgers ... but now that the spirits have potentially made their way into the conversation -- maybe that changes soon???

Allen Lazard tells TMZ Sports Aaron Rodgers was "a big reason" he's now a Jet ... and, no, he says he has zero concerns that a NY trade for the QB could fall through.

Lazard reached an agreement to play for the Jets last Tuesday -- one day before Rodgers publicly revealed he wants to be in NY too -- and it's clear the good pals/former Packers teammates had at least some conversations about linking up in New York before making their decisions.

Lazard revealed Rodgers' intent to play for the Jets was actually one of two big things that pulled him to Gang Green -- the other was that his former offensive coordinator in Green Bay, Nathaniel Hackett, is now the Jets OC.

He explained ... Rodgers is not only an elite thrower of the football, but he's also a guy who he believes can "light a lot of fire underneath" Jets players, helping their Super Bowl chances.

And, even though a trade for Rodgers hasn't officially gone through as both the Packers and the Jets appear to be at an impasse over compensation, he tells us he ain't sweatin' it one bit.

"There's no worry on my end," said the 27-year-old receiver, who inked a four-year, $44 million contract with the Jets. "Especially knowing that Aaron has his full-on commitment to being a New York Jet this year."

Don't book hotel rooms in Las Vegas just yet, Jets fans ... Packers legend LeRoy Butler tells TMZ Sports even with Aaron Rodgers -- "ya'll ain't going to no Super Bowl."

In fact, according to the Hall of Famer, NY won't even break .500 this season with Rodgers!!!

Butler gave us his prediction on Friday -- just a couple days after Rodgers made it known he wants to be traded from the Packers to the Jets -- and he's warning NY fans, be careful what you wish for.

Don't get it twisted, Butler thinks Rodgers can still sling the pigskin -- "you can blindfold Aaron flat-footed, and he'll hit a mosquito" -- he just thinks the way the quarterback is handling this offseason won't lend itself to big wins later in 2023.

"I'm going to say this," Butler told us, "I was on a team that went to two Super Bowls -- your team gotta be close."

"I don't know if Aaron Rodgers is going to be there the whole offseason to gel with the top Rookie of the Year wide receiver [Garrett Wilson] ... I don't know if he's going to be there to go to the clubs with Breece Hall. I don't know."

Butler said he's expecting it all to lead to only eight wins for the Jets in '23.

"And then, you have to waffle again if he wants to play for 2024," Butler said.

Butler added he's not been pleased with the way Rodgers has handled his impending exit from Green Bay -- straight up saying some of the signal-caller's words have come across as "disrespectful."

He added that he's happy the team can finally move on from the Rodgers saga with Jordan Love -- predicting GB will win nine or 10 games this season.

Aaron Rodgers just admitted he wants to be a New York Jet in 2023 ... saying it's clear to him the Green Bay Packers no longer want him.

The star quarterback broke everything down about his current situation on The Pat McAfee Show on Wednesday afternoon -- saying as of last Friday, he had decided to not retire ... and his intention is to now "play for the New York Jets."

He added that following conversations with Green Bay execs, he believed the Packers "would like to move on" as well.

Rodgers said he's not the one holding up an official Green Bay to NY trade from going through -- saying it's the Packers who are the ones preventing a deal. He explained ... his former team is still trying to work out compensation for the QB.

The 39-year-old said he harbors no ill will toward his former team for the way it's all going down now ... but he did say he wished the Packers had been more honest with him following the season.

He told McAfee that, initially, Green Bay brass had said "take as long as you want" ... and "if you want to come back and play, the door is wide open."

But, Rodgers -- who admitted he had seriously considered retiring ("90 percent," he called it) prior to his darkness retreat in late February -- said things changed when he returned from isolation.

"Multiple people that I trust around the league said that there was some shopping going on," Rodgers said. "[The Packers] were interested in moving me."

He added, "They're ready to move on with Jordan [Love]. That's awesome. Jordan is going to be a great player, he's a great kid."

No word yet on when a trade will happen -- but one thing is clear, it appears to be truly a matter of "when" now ... no longer "if."

Sauce Gardner is doing everything in his power to ensure Aaron Rodgers is in a Jets uniform next season ... going as far as burning a cheesehead hat on camera in a recruitment pitch to the star QB.

Rodgers -- whose future with Green Bay is up in the air -- has been linked to the Jets this offseason ... and Gardner is hell-bent on making sure #12 pulls up to play with him.

Gardner got together with his teammates, Breece Hall and Garrett Wilson, on Thursday ... sending a message loud and clear to the future Hall of Fame QB with a fire and a hat Packers fans love to wear.

"Where A-Rod at, man?" Gardner asked in the video. "Let's make this happen, man. I ain't playing no games no more. I was playing at first. I'm not playing no more. You see it in my face. I need you to lock in."

"I need you to come here so we can win the Super Bowl. Don't even play no more."

The guys even fantasized about what life would be like for the Jets' offense with Rodgers under center ... with Hall and Wilson telling the Super Bowl-winning QB "you might as well make that move."

Of course, the video isn't going to sit well with Green Bay fans ... you'll recall, Sauce paraded around Lambeau Field wearing the cheesehead hat after the Jets defeated the Packers in stunning fashion, 27-10, in Week 6.

"Green Bay fans not going to hate me as much 'cause I don't own the cheese head no more," Gardner, the Defensive Rookie of the Year, joked.

Aaron Rodgers has announced his next move ... but it ain't related to his football career -- the NFL superstar is set to speak at a huge psychedelic science conference!!

The 39-year-old quarterback is one of several featured guests for the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies' "Psychedelic Science 2023" event in June ... which is being dubbed "the largest psychedelic gathering in history."

The conference -- which is expecting 10,000 attendees -- will include speeches, workshops and panel discussions about all things hallucinogens.

Of course, Rodgers has been outspoken about his passion for the plant-based psychedelic, Ayahuasca ... which he credits with helping his mental health and MVP seasons in 2020 and 2021.

Rodgers has also previously talked about his use of mushrooms ... which led to him trying out the brewed drink during his trip to South America.

Rodgers isn't the only athlete slated to speak -- Olympic silver medalist Sasha Cohen is also listed as a special guest for the event in Denver.

If Aaron Rodgers ends up packing his bags and taking his talents to the Jets, former Giants stars Eli Manning and Shaun O'Hara have some simple advice on how he can thrive in New York -- "just win!!"

The two-time Super Bowl MVP and his good buddy/former teammate took a few minutes from their Easter extravaganza with The Children's Place in New Jersey on Friday to chat with Babcock and Lucas on the TMZ Sports TV show (airs weekdays on FS1) about the biggest story of the NFL offseason ... and they both offered a solid perspective on what's going through Aaron's head as he contemplates his future.

"It's hard just because your whole life, you work towards it," Eli tells us. "You're dedicated to the game, you've been doing it the past 25 years since high school, preparing to play this game. To say, 'Alright, I'm not doing it anymore,' it's a really tough decision."

"Usually, in your heart, you just know you're not willing to do the preparation, to do the work, to do the full commitment it takes to play at that level."

Eli -- who retired in 2020 -- says he knew he made the right call when he called it a career ... because when he started watching games as a spectator, the tackles made on the field looked "brutal."

O'Hara added even after players retire, they will continue to think they can still play ... but he says since Rodgers is playing at such a high level, he'd be shocked if he left the game behind right now.

If O'Hara is right, there's a good chance Rodgers could end up with a new home after 18 seasons with the Green Bay Packers ... and there's rumblings that next team could be the Jets.

Since Manning and O'Hara have a ton of experience playing in the Big Apple, we asked if they had some wise words for the 4-time MVP ... and Eli thinks Rodgers would do just fine, especially after he spent several days on an isolation retreat in Oregon.

"I don't think Aaron needs any advice from us," Eli says. "The guy's been playing at an unbelievable level for so long, MVP. If he wants to come to New York and play if that's an option, he'll think about it."

"He's had his time in the darkness to debate that. And, he honestly can still play at a high level and come to New York with a young team, they have a talented roster there with the Jets."

O'Hara added all Rodgers has to do to keep the fierce New York media off his back is to rack up victories ... and Eli agreed.

"Yeah, everything works out if you win."

Manning and O'Hara were together for a really special reason -- they teamed up with The Children's Place to host more than 300 kids for a day of fun at Superdome Sports in Waldwick to kick off the brand's Spring collection.

There were football drills, giveaways, obstacle courses and Easter egg hunts ... and it was clear everyone had a blast.

Eli even showed he's still got a great arm in some throwing drills ... and gave some pointers to the youngins as well.

Eli also visited the Joseph M. Sanzari Children's Hospital in Hackensack earlier on Friday ... meeting with a bunch of amazing kids and handing out Easter baskets and autographs!!

Aaron Rodgers encountered plenty of issues while in isolation last week, but poopin' wasn't one of them ... the quarterback revealed Wednesday his dumps in the dark were "very, very smooth."

Apparently, that's not always the case on the four-night, no-light retreat ... because Aubrey Marcus said while with Rodgers on the latest episode of the "Aubrey Marcus Podcast," he struggled to know when it was time to finish wiping -- creating a pretty crappy situation.

But, when Rodgers opened up to Marcus about his own potty breaks -- he said he had no such problems.

"My dumps were super smooth," the quarterback said.

The Green Bay Packers star explained his diet -- which consisted mostly of giant salads -- created an ideal situation for being in a restroom without light.

"In my mind," he said, "they were all two-wipers. They were two-wipers and done."

He added, "There were multiple, though, that I didn't even think I needed a wipe."

As for Rodgers' real concerns on his trip -- his football future and potential retirement -- he said those topics required far more attention.

The 39-year-old said he spent a full day thinking about what life would be like if he retired. Then, he said, he spent the entire next day dreaming of how life would be if he continued playing.

He ultimately didn't come to a decision while away from human touch and light ... but he did say he now is going to feel way more at peace with whatever choice he ultimately makes.

Aaron Rodgers went from the darkness to some neon lights -- hitting up a trendy Colorado bar just days after emerging from his isolation retreat.

The Green Bay Packers quarterback bolted for the venue in Vail less than a week after spending a few days and nights in complete darkness in a room in Oregon. In video of the GB QB, obtained by TMZ Sports, you can see the time away from sunlight and human touch didn't do any harm.

Rodgers dressed well for the night out with a group of friends at Chasing Rabbits' The Rabbit Hole ... playing Skee-Ball, Pop-A-Shot and even Twister.

Witnesses tell us Rodgers arrived around 9 PM with roughly 15 people in his crew ... including some very beautiful women. They drank champagne throughout the evening -- and we're told Rodgers seemed to be carefree, sharing laughs with his pals.

Eventually, the NFL superstar and co. headed off to a private room for dinner.