The love-hate story between Aaron Rodgers and the San Francisco 49ers
For Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, facing the San Francisco 49ers will always represent something special and "A-Rod's" history with the Northern California franchise dates back almost from the first day he saw the light of day.
His childhood team
Rodgers was born on December 2, 1983 in the town of Chico, California, which is just 138.57 miles north of San Francisco and in his childhood, despite his family's constant changes of residence he grew up idolizing first Joe Montana and then Steve Young while being a fan of the 49ers who won five Super Bowls between the 1980s and 1990s.
At the collegiate level, Rodgers played at the University of California at Berkeley and as he began to excel his connection to being drafted by San Francisco in the 2005 NFL Draft.
The 49ers had the first overall pick, and would have to choose between Rodgers and University of Utah quarterback Alex Smith. The Golden Bears QB was asked prior to the draft if he would be disappointed if the team he loved didn't pick him: "Not as disappointed as the 49ers will be that they didn't draft me."
The rejection in the 2005 Draft
As it turns out, the 49ers chose Smith, Rodgers then had to wait in one of the most nerve-wracking scenes in draft history for nearly three hours to finally hear his name called at the 24th overall pick by the Packers.
Rodgers had to wait three seasons to take the starting job in Brett Favre's Green Bay, which eliminated the 49ers from the playoffs three straight times and overall had a 4-1 record against this team in the postseason.
Rodgers has been one of the most successful quarterbacks in NFL history, however, his accomplishments do not include defeating San Francisco in the postseason.
Three playoff losses
The frustrations of "A-Rod" against his favorite team have been multiple, but they are three defeats in the same amount of attempts in elimination games, including the pass to Super Bowl LIV a couple of seasons ago.
This offseason, it was reported that when Rodgers mentioned that he wanted to change teams, the 49ers were his first choice and now, fate once again puts San Francisco on the road to try to win his second Super Bowl when he faces the 49ers this Saturday, January 22nd in the Divisional Round.
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