When the 2021 offseason started, Aaron Rodgers' future with the Green Bay Packers was in doubt. There were talks he and the team could be heading to splitsville, while some thought he was considering retirement. In the end, he decided to return to the Packers with a massive pay raise of at least $50 million per year in the next three seasons.

Of course his return was met with joy by Packers fans and, well, just a deep sigh by his NFC North opponents. After all, the thought of Rodgers leaving the team or retiring means the division could be a whole lot easier.

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins admitted as much in his recent appearance on The Pat McAfee Show when he was asked if he had hopes Rodgers would choose to retire. Although his answer was a bit long and he didn't directly say it, he basically said yes.

“I always want the neighborhood to be as friendly as possible and as long as Aaron Rodgers lives at the end of the cul-de-sac, the neighborhood is gonna be challenging,” Cousins said.

“We always say, to be the best you gotta beat the best. So you don’t want to back into anything. But I'd be lying to you if I thought the division would be just as difficult if Aaron Rodgers were somewhere else. That’s just out of respect for his game and the way he’s played for 17 years.”

Article Continues Below
More Minnesota Vikings News
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) passes against the Las Vegas Raiders in the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Vikings QB JJ McCarthy reveals biggest goal for debut seasonBenedetto Vitale ·
vikings, donovan jackson
Rising Minnesota Vikings rookie turning heads in 2025 OTAsGarrett Kerman ·
Vikings legend Jim Marshall, Hall of Famer Brett Favre
Brett Favre’s heartfelt reaction to Vikings legend Jim Marshall’s passingAlex House ·
Dec 11, 1976; Miami, FL, USA; FILE PHOTO; Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jim Marshall (70) against the Miami Dolphins at the Orange Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Photo By Malcolm Emmons- Imagn Images
Purple People Eaters legend who played 270 straight games passes awayZachary Draves ·
vikings, minnesota vikings
3 Minnesota Vikings hidden gems on 2025 roster you need to knowGarrett Kerman ·
Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah speaks during a press conference at the NFL Scouting Combine at Indiana Convention Center.
Vikings lock up GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah to multi-year contract extensionBen Strauss ·

It's easy to see where Kirk Cousins is coming from. The Packers have dominated the NFC North for so long because of Aaron Rodgers, and truth be told, the division would be more open and there would be more balance.

With that said, it is safe to say that Rodgers and the Packers pose the biggest hurdle for any NFC North team to make the playoffs. If they want any shot at the Super Bowl, they will have to go through Green Bay first, and not just once a season. Imagine how difficult is that?

But then again, as Cousins said it, facing such tough opponents is not that bad since it's a good measure if they can compete against the top dogs.