Jeff Savage - Aaron Rodgers

Aaron Rodgers

Jeff Savage

Copyright 2012 by Jeff Savage
All rights reserved. International copyright secured. No part of this book may be reproduced,
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Lerner Publications Company
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Savage, Jeff, 1961
Aaron Rodgers / by Jeff Savage.
p. cm. (Amazing athletes)
Includes index.
ISBN 9780761382232 (lib. bdg. : alk. paper)
1. Rodgers, Aaron, 1983 2. Football playersUnited StatesBiographyJuvenile literature.
3. Quarterbacks (Football)United StatesBiographyJuvenile literature. I. Title.
Juvenile literature. I. Title.
GV939.R6235S28 2012
796.332092dc22
[B] 2011006453

Manufactured in the United States of America
2 BP 7/1/12

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Aaron Rodgers sets up for a
pass during the 2011 Super Bowl
against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

SUPER PERFORMANCE

Aaron Rodgers threw a perfect spiral. Packers
receiver Jordy Nelson was running deep down
the right side of the field. The football landed
directly in Nelsons arms. But with million
people watching, Nelson dropped it.

Aaron and his Green Bay Packers teammates
were playing against the Pittsburgh Steelers
in Super Bowl XLV on February 6, 2011. The
Steelers had the top defense in football. The
Packers could hardly afford to drop easy
passes. Unfortunately, they dropped five
perfect throws from Aaron in the game. But
Aaron wasnt about to let mistakes rattle him
in the biggest game of his life.

Jordy Nelson of the Packers
misses a catch on a pass from
Aaron during the Super Bowl.

Nelson carries the ball for a
touchdown on a throw from Aaron.

When the Packers got the ball again, Aaron
completed four passes to move the ball down
the field. In the huddle, he called for a short
pass play. But he changed the play at the line
of scrimmage. Aaron threw another deep pass
to Nelson. This time, Nelson caught it for a 29-
yard touchdown! Aaron threw his arms in the
air. With the extra point, the Packers led 7-

Twenty- four seconds later, Nick Collins
intercepted Steelers quarterback Ben
Roethlisbergers pass. He weaved his way
yards into the end zone. That put the Packers
ahead,
The Steelers answered with a field goal.
Then Donald Driver, one of Aarons favorite
receivers, limped off the field with an ankle
injury. Aaron stayed calm. He fired down the
middle to Greg Jennings. Touchdown!

Greg Jennings dives for a touchdown, putting
the Packers up -3 during the first half.

Pittsburgh fought back, cutting the lead to
Aaron responded with another drive. At
the 8- yard line, he looked left. Then he turned
right. Aaron zipped a pass to Jennings for
another touchdown.
The Packers won the Super Bowl,
Aaron was named Most Valuable Player (MVP).
This is what I dreamed about as a
kid, he said. This is incredible.

Aaron and teammate Clay
Matthews (left) celebrate the
Packers Super Bowl victory.

This photo shows Aarons hometown
of Chico, California, at night.

FOOTBALL DREAMS

Aaron Charles Rodgers was born December 2,
1983, to Ed and Darla Rodgers. Aaron grew up
in Chico, California, with his parents and his
brothers, Luke and Jordan.
Aaron loved football from the start. San
Francisco 49ers quarterback Joe Montana was
his hero. In kindergarten, Aaron played football
at recess. He was always quarterback.

Aaron excelled at other sports too. By second
grade, he could dribble a basketball with either
hand and throw passes without looking. As
a Little League baseball pitcher, he fired balls
past batters.
Aaron often played with his older brother
Luke. Dad threw football passes while the
two boys covered each other. But Luke
controlled basketball games. I wanted to
beat him so bad, Aaron said. If he beat me,
Id make him stay out there and play game
after game.
As a freshman at Pleasant
Valley High School in Chico in
1998, Aaron was just five feet
eight and weighed pounds.
But he wore size shoes. Some
friends called him Feet.

In high school,
Aaron traveled to
Mexico twice with
other area youths
to help build
houses for poor
families.

Aaron suffered a serious knee injury in his
sophomore football season. A doctor told him
to take a year off from sports. Instead, Aaron
wore a brace and strengthened his knee with
exercises. He was back on the field as a junior.
Aaron passed for over 2,000 yards that season.
He focused on football more than ever. He
skipped parties to get a good nights sleep.
He earned a
3.6 grade point
average. He knew
having good
grades would
give him more
college choices.

Aaron wears his Pleasant
Valley High School letter jacket.

As a senior in 2001, Aaron passed for 2,303
yards to break the school record. He threw six
touchdowns in one game to set another record.
He waited for college recruiters to offer him
scholarships. But no one called or visited.

A young Aaron looks for a target in a game against the
Red Bluff Spartans. Red Bluff is northwest of Chico.