July 2021. The Green Bay Packers were coming off of a disappointing loss in the NFC Championship Game at home in Lambeau Field to Tom Brady and the eventual Super Bowl Champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The loss was bitter, as all four NFC Championship losses during the Aaron Rodgers Era in Green Bay were.
There was some hope, though, that the Packers would have another shot to win another Super Bowl that year. After all, Rodgers had just won his third NFL MVP Award after completing 70.7% of his passes (led the NFL) for 4,229 yards, 48 touchdowns (led the NFL), just five interceptions, and a passer rating of 121.5 (led the NFL).
Additionally, Davante Adams had made his first All-Pro team after catching 115 passes for 1,374 yards and 18 touchdowns (led the NFL and tied a Packers franchise record. With such a great supporting cast around them, many believed that 2021 would be the year that saw Green Bay bring the Lombardi Trophy back home.
But then this happened.
Former Green Bay Packers Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams Announced Their Last Dance
On July 23, five days before training camp began that year, both Rodgers and Adams posted the exact same photo on their Instagram stories:
Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams have the same Instagram story up right now. pic.twitter.com/hDLE02V7fk
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) July 24, 2021
As fans may recall, The Last Dance was a documentary about the late 1990’s Chicago Bulls, their sixth NBA Championship, and the dismantling of their dynasty.
The message Adams and Rodgers were sending was clear: 2021 would be their final season as teammates in Green Bay.
Rodgers won his fourth NFL MVP Award while 68.9% of his passes for 4,115 yards, 37 touchdowns, four interceptions, and a 111.9 passer rating. Adams made his second consecutive First Team All-Pro catching a team-record 123 passes for another team-record 1,553 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns.
2021 was also the final year of Adams’ contract with the Packers. Despite contract negotiations and the team placing the franchise tag on him, Adams requested a trade, which Green Bay granted.
Adams, of course, was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders for a first and second round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
The following offseason, Rodgers was sent to the New York Jets.
Aaron Rodgers Says He Cannot Wait to Play with Former Green Bay Packers Teammate Davante Adams Again
Fast forward to 2024. Adams has had two solid seasons in Las Vegas (including another First Team All-Pro selection) while Rodgers had his worst season as a starter for the Packers followed by an injury that ended his first year in New York after just four snaps.
Neither the Raiders nor the Jets are where they thought they would be after acquiring Green Bay’s former superstars. Las Vegas has a woefully dismal quarterback room with a battle between Aidan O’Connell and Gardner Minshew for the starting job. New York has Garrett Wilson at wide receiver but is relying on Mike Williams recovering from an ACL tear and Allen Lazard to be enough for Rodgers.
Due to these situations, particularly the one in Las Vegas, there have been rumblings that Rodgers could force the Jets to trade for his favorite former Packers wide receiver. Adams confirmed that Rodgers has been in his ear about teaming up again, but also said that he is happy playing with the Raiders.
Earlier today, during a golf tournament, Rodgers was asked about Adams’ comments. he said:
“I love Davante Adams. I can’t wait to play with him… again.” – Aaron Rodgers
👀👀👀👀
pic.twitter.com/YDfBTqsHSj— PFF (@PFF) July 11, 2024
“I love Davante Adams. I can’t wait to play with him again.”
Interestingly, both Adams and Rodgers are in situations where both of their teams could move on from them after 2024. If the Jets fail to meet expectations, that whole organization could get blown up, and Rodgers has said he will likely be gone if he fails to play the way he feels he is capable of playing.
Next offseason, the Raiders could save $29 million by cutting or trading Adams.
Are two planning a new dance somewhere else? And if so, where?
