Aaron Rodgers Says Ayahuasca Psychedelic Helped Him Win Back-to-Back NFL MVP Awards

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers suggested Wednesday that the use of a psychedelic drug helped him win back-to-back NFL MVP awards in 2020 and 2021.

Appearing on the Aubrey Marcus Podcast (h/t Jace Evans of USA Today), Rodgers described using ayahuasca for the first time in South America and explained how he believes the psychedelic helped him:

"I don't think it's a coincidence. I really don't. I don't really believe in coincidences at this point. It's the universe bringing things to happen when they're supposed to happen.

"There's signs and synchronicities all around us at all times if we're awake enough to see them and to take them in and to listen to our intuition when it's speaking to us or pounding us in the head saying, 'Hey dummy, this is what you're supposed to be doing.'"

Rodgers explained that he tried ayahuasca after experiencing "one of the best days of [his] life," which entailed taking psychedelic mushrooms on a beach. Rodgers added that ayahuasca has helped his mental health and given him "unconditional self-love," which has helped his relationship with teammates and others in his life.

From an on-field perspective, Rodgers has played some of the best football of his career over the past two seasons.

The 38-year-old completed 70.7 percent of his passes for 4,299 yards, 48 touchdowns and just five interceptions in 2020 and followed that up with 4,115 yards, 37 touchdowns and just four interceptions last season.

The future Hall of Famer went 13-3 as a starter both seasons and helped Green Bay earn the No. 1 seed in the NFC; however, playoff success eluded the Packers both times.

Their 2020 season ended with a home playoff loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC Championship Game, and last season they lost to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Divisional Round.

The four-time NFL MVP is still in search of his second Super Bowl ring, but he will have to go on that quest without wide receiver Davante Adams, who is no longer his top target after getting traded to the Las Vegas Raiders.

Still, with Rodgers at the helm, the Pack are expected to be a top team in the NFC again this season and Super Bowl contenders.