NFL Rumors: Aaron Rodgers' Agent Told Packers to Fire Gutekunst or Trade QB in 2021

Aaron Rodgers tried to get Brian Gutekunst fired as general manager of the Green Bay Packers two years ago.

Per The Athletic's Matt Schneidman, Rodgers' agent, David Dunn, called Packers president Mark Murphy early in the 2021 offseason with a request to either fire Gutekunst or trade the then-reigning NFL MVP.

Schneidman asked Rodgers about the situation, but the quarterback deferred to his agent, who didn't respond to a request for comment.

The Packers refused the QB's request, with Gutekunst telling reporters after the first round of the 2021 draft they are "not gonna trade Aaron Rodgers."

Hours before the start of the 2021 draft, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Rodgers was "so disgruntled" with the Packers organization he didn't want to return to the team.

According to Schefter, Gutekunst, Murphy and head coach Matt LaFleur took separate trips to meet with Rodgers at various points in the offseason to address his concerns.

Upon arriving at training camp three months after Schefter's report, Rodgers met with the media to speak publicly about the situation.

"This wasn't just a draft-day thing," the 10-time Pro Bowler told reporters. "It started with a conversation in February, after the season ended. I just expressed my desire to be more involved in conversations directly affecting my job."

Rodgers told Schneidman communication between himself and Gutekunst did somewhat improve after his training-camp press conference, but it "still wasn't anywhere near what I've already enjoyed here with the Jets in just a few short weeks."

The Packers enjoyed a successful regular season in 2021, earning the No. 1 seed in the NFC with a 13-4 record. Rodgers won his second consecutive MVP award, but the team came up short in the playoffs with a 13-10 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Divisional Round.

Despite the apparent bad blood between Rodgers and Green Bay's front office, he signed a contract extension with the club last offseason. The 39-year-old got a three-year, $150.8 million deal done in March before the start of free agency.

The Packers did trade Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders shortly after re-signing Rodgers. Schneidman noted the team was "eventually" willing to oblige Adams' desire to be the NFL's highest-paid receiver, but Rodgers "believes now that the way negotiations were handled helped drive Adams away."

"They offered him less money than Christian Kirk ($18 million per year) and (Adams) is going, 'Are you serious right now? I'm the best receiver in the league, and you're gonna offer me less than Christian Kirk?" Rodgers told Schneidman. "With all due respect, he's not on Davante's level."

Green Bay's offense struggled while adjusting to the loss of Adams. The team finished 14th in points per game, its lowest ranking since the 2019 season before Jordan Love was selected in the first round of the 2020 draft.

Rodgers and the Packers finally separated this offseason when the future Hall of Fame quarterback was traded to the New York Jets on April 26.

Gutekunst, meanwhile, is entering his sixth season as Packers general manager. He's been with the organization since 1998 when he was hired as a scout.