It didn’t take long for Aaron Rodgers to enter the New York sports scene.
On Saturday, the former Green Bay Packers quarterback at a New York Rangers playoff hockey game, probably living his most productive life. The next day, he was in the box for the New York Knicks’ playoff game at Madison Square Garden, chatting with Spike Lee, among other A-list celebrities.
Rodgers, whose 18-year career with the Packers officially ended last week when he was traded to the New York Jets, said in his introductory press conference Wednesday at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center that he plans to spend some time this offseason getting to know his new city and teammates.
Rodgers chose the right position, the hockey and basketball playoffs at Madison Square Garden, to do that.
The crowd went wild when Rodgers appeared on the Jumbotron in the Rangers’ 5-2 win over the New Jersey Devils in game six of this first-round playoff series. Rodgers attended the game with Allen Lazard, a former Packers receiver-turned-Jets, and his new teammate Breece Hall, the young running back from New York.
New York ? @AaronRodgers12 pic. twitter. com/EBoMv7XpI5
Lazard, who wore a Rangers jersey, shared a video on Instagram of him and Rodgers holding each other’s arms singing the team’s purpose song with the crowd. Rodgers and Lazard are now officially New Yorkers.
? AARON RODGERS SINGING THE GOAL ? SONG (allenlazard/IG) pic. twitter. com/Y6NdN9Xnii
Less than 12 hours later, Rodgers and Lazard returned to MSG for a playoff basketball game. It was the first game of the Eastern Conference semifinal series between the Knicks and the Miami Heat. This time, they were alongside rapper Jack Harlow. The Knicks showed a short video montage of Rodgers at his introductory press conference with the Jets and his first practice on the Jumbotron. The crowd gave their approval.
Great deportista@AaronRodgers12 pic. twitter. com/ZtfcGDoals
Rodgers was also named by ESPN reporter Cassidy Hubbarth in her postgame interview with Heat star Jimmy Butler when she compared a Kevin Love tee pass to Butler for a Rodgers throw.
Although he wasn’t dressed in a Knicks jersey, Rodgers’ site at MSG will have to be a bit for those who have grown accustomed to seeing him at the Bradley Center and later at the Fiserv Forum for Milwaukee Bucks games. His prominent girlfriends at the time, actress Olivia Munn and career driving force Danica Patrick, had also joined him in Milwaukee over the years. He even spent his 39th birthday at a Bucks game in December.
Rodgers was such a fan of the Bucks that he bought a small stake in the franchise in 2018, making the NFL’s first active player an NBA owner.
In recent seasons, when he attended games, Rodgers was at the side of the Edens family. Wes Edens is one of the Bucks’ main owners and his daughter, Mallory, is reportedly dating Rodgers.
Had the Bucks defeated the Heat in the first round of the playoffs, a Milwaukee-New York series would have been exciting not only because of a clash between franchises from large and small markets, but also to see if Rodgers had attended one of them. Games.
Anyway, the new Jets quarterback temporarily has his cheese head and one of his Bucks outfits for the New York lifestyle. A Mets-Yankees double schedule on Monday?
More: Ate at Chives, stopped at Frosty Tip, put “meat on hold” at Maplewood. Sometimes Aaron Rodgers likes us.
More: From “Letterman” Guest to “Jeopardy!” host, 15 of the most memorable moments in Aaron Rodgers’ Packers pop culture
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