Aaron Rodgers, the 2021-22 NFL MVP, on Tuesday has agreed a four-year extension deal with the Green Bay Packers that makes him the highest-paid player in sport’s history, according to reports. 

Rodgers agreed to a four-year, $200 million extension with the Packers. His average annual salary will be $50 million. 

Also read: NFL salary cap set at $208.2 million for 2022

He was selected in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft by the Packers. The 38-year-old will receive $153 million guaranteed as part of the extension. The extension was reported amid rumours that Rodgers was considering retirement and potentially a trade to the Denver Broncos. 

Rodgers’ decision comes nearly a month after he won his second straight MVP award. The four-time MVP quarterback has spent his entire career in Green Bay.

Also read: NFL suspends Falcons’ Calvin Ridley indefinitely over betting charges

He said he wanted to make an announcement on his future before the start of the free agency period that begins next week. The reports of his decision surfaced the same day the Packers face a deadline whether to give All-Pro receiver Davante Adams a franchise tag.

Rodgers recently has frequently offered compliments about the moves general manager Brian Gutekunst made to improve the team. Those moves included acquiring wide receiver Randall Cobb at Rodgers’ request. Rodgers said he got the sense there was better communication this season and that “I feel like my opinion mattered.”

Also read: NFL GOAT Tom Brady breaks silence on retirement U-turn, future plans

“I think he put together a really nice team, a team that could have won a Super Bowl, and he deserves a lot of credit for some of the moves that he made,” Rodgers said after a January playoff loss to San Francisco. “I’m disappointed we couldn’t put it together for him and the organization tonight, and I’m disappointed it’s ending.”

Gutekunst agreed their relationship was in a good place.

“I feel really good about where we sit right now,” Gutekunst said before the NFL scouting combine.

Rodgers had a tumultuous 2021 season in a number of respects, particularly for comments he made about his vaccination status. When asked before the season whether he had been vaccinated against COVID-19, Rodgers replied, “Yeah, I’m immunized.” But after testing positive during the season, Rodgers acknowledged he was unvaccinated and said he instead had sought alternative treatments.

Rodgers also dealt with a fractured left pinky toe for much of the year, but continued playing at an All-Pro level. He threw 20 touchdown passes with no interceptions over his final seven regular-season games. He led the Packers to a 13-4 record and a third straight NFC North championship.