Aaron Rodgers certainly isn't afraid of a headline or two --just look at how his drama-filled offseason turned into leading the Packers to a 7-1 record and the top of Pete Prisco's NFL power rankings -- but his latest move is completely different than any headline he has been a part of before.
Rodgers announced Monday afternoon in a Twitter video that he will be taking part of his NFL salary in Bitcoin. He is also giving away $1 million Bitcoin as part of a partnership with Cash App.
The reigning NFL MVP started the video by saying "Bitcoin to the moon."
I believe in Bitcoin & the future is bright. That's why I’m teaming up with Cash App to take a portion of my salary in bitcoin today.
— Aaron Rodgers (@AaronRodgers12) November 1, 2021
To make Bitcoin more accessible to my fans I’m giving out a total of $1M in btc now too. Drop your $cashtag w/ #PaidInBitcoin & follow @CashApp pic.twitter.com/mstV7eal04
Rodgers, dressed in his "John Wick" Halloween costume in the video, signed a 4-year, $134-million extension in 2018 that included $98 million in guarantees. Rodgers is set to earn roughly $22 million this season, according to Over the Cap, he has made over $256 million in his NFL career, which began in 2005.
It wasn't always clear if Rodgers would return for a 17th season and what team he would play for even if he did. Rodgers skipped large portions of the Packers' offseason workout program over various frustrations with the organization and admitted he contemplated retirement. Things seem to have smoothed over, and Rodgers has thrown 17 touchdowns and just one interception during the team's current seven-game winning streak.
The Packers' signal caller joins a growing list of NFL stars who have taken to cryptocurrency. Just last week, Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady said he gave Tampa Bay fan Byron Kennedy a Bitcoin as part of the exchange for the football from Brady's 600th career touchdown pass.
Giants running Saquon Barkley announced in July that all of his future endorsement deals would be paid in Bitcoin.
