NFL 2021 Awards: Aaron Rodgers wins fourth MVP

Green Bay Packers star quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been named the NFL Most Valuable Player (MVP) award for the 2021 season.

The 38-year-old won the award for the fourth time, having previously been MVP in 2011, 2014 and 2020 and only trials five-time winner Peyton Manning for the most by any player. Manning presented the award to Rodgers on February 10.

Voting for the award are cast by a panel of 50 sportswriters at the end of the regular season, with Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp and newly-retired Tom Brady, a three-time winner of the award, the only other players to receive votes.

“It is kind of surreal sitting here,” Rodgers said. “Being a four-time MVP is crazy. They’re all different. They’ve all unique in their own ways and this one feels the sweetest.”

It’s been another dazzling albeit chaotic season for the veteran, who has won the MVP award for the second consecutive year.

Rodgers threw for 4,115 yards and 37 touchdowns over the 16 games he played during the 2021 regular season, leading the league with a 111.9 passing rating while helping the Packers achieve a 13-4 record.

Despite his success, the reigning MVP could not lead the Packers on a run through the playoffs, as the NFC top seeds lost out to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Divisional Round.

While his play on the field was superb, Rodgers has been involved in a number of controversies over the past year, from the turmoil of preseason training camp to misleading the public on his Covid-19 vaccination status.

He has admitted to be considering a trade request or retirement, making it public that he does not want to be part of any rebuilding process in Green Bay.

Now, the biggest question for Rodgers is whether he’ll be a Packer at the start of the 2022 season.

“I’ve got some decisions to make for sure,”, Rodgers told Taylor Bisciotti of NFL Network. “. I’m gonna enjoy the next couple weeks. I’ve had good conversations with Green Bay and I’ll, you know, do some contemplating and then make a decision here pretty quick.”

Meanwhile, Rams receiver Kupp went on to pick up the offensive player of the year after a sensational 2021. He will be hoping to cap off a career-best year with a victory in Super Bowl LVI.

The offensive rookie award went to wideout Ja’Marr Chase, who will come up against Kupp for the Lombardi Trophy on February 13.

Elsewhere, unanimous All-Pro edge rusher TJ Watt, who led the NFL in sacks with a record-tying 22.5, claimed the defensive player of the year. He received the award in an emotional presentation with brother and three-time recipient, JJ Watt of the Arizona Cardinals.

Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons was the runner-up, while also being named as the defensive rookie of the year.

Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel won the coach of the year, after leading his team to the AFC’s top seed in 2021.