Aaron Rodgers Risked a Conflict with the Packers After Making a Bold Demand for Aaron Jones, Saying ‘It Meant a Lot’ to Keep Him on the Team .Giang

Former Green Bay Packers star Aaron Jones will make an emotional return to Lambeau Field for the first time on Sunday and has penned a letter to his old fans.

Jones, 29, was released by the Packers this past offseason after seven years in Green Bay and signed a one-year contract with divisional rivals Minnesota Vikings. It’s the first time that the veteran running back will face the Packers in his NFL career, and ahead of the Week 4 clash he sent a thank you message to the Green Bay fans.

With 63 touchdowns in 97 games for the Packers, Jones will always be considered a legend in Green Bay, but he needed some help when it came to getting his first big break in the team. Jones had the backing of both wide receiver Davante Adams and four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers, who had faith in him from the start.

The Packers selected Jones in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft (182nd overall) and it took a while for the UTEP product to make his debut after being listed as fourth on the depth chart. That was until Rodgers demanded to the coaches that Jones see more snaps, and he soon became RB1.

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In Jones’ message to the Packers fans, he went right back to the beginning of his time in Green Bay and described how supportive Rodgers was during his rookie season. “I remember the very first time I played an offensive snap — it was Week 4 at home against Chicago,” Jones said to The Players’ Tribune.

“Both our main running backs had gone down, so it’s only me and our fullback left. I run onto the field, and when I get into the huddle it’s crazy: A-Rod, he just looks at me and he says, ‘Hey. I am one of your biggest fans in this entire organization. It’s your time. Yours, right now.’ I ended up scoring and we won that game.

“The next few weeks, both main backs were still out and I played really well. Pretty soon they got healthy though and I went back to not being out there as much. In my head I’m thinking, I had a nice moment. Maybe it’s over.

“But then I’ll never forget there was this one drive, later in the season — and out of nowhere, A-Rod calls timeout, turns to the sideline and yells: ‘I WANT 33 IN THE GAME!!! I WANT 33 IN THE GAME!!! 33!!! NOW!!!’ I’m standing there, I’m looking down at my jersey … and suddenly I’m like, ‘Oh wait. I’m 33. That’s ME.’

“I don’t even remember what the play was, or what happened on it, but I just know how good that felt. It was this reminder that I was there for a reason, you know what I mean? One of the best QBs who’s ever lived is actually seeing something in me.”

The Packers also selected BYU product Jamaal Williams in the 2017 NFL Draft, who became their starting running back. Aaron Ripkowski and Ty Montgomery were also rivaling Jones that year, and the wide receiver room began taking bets on who would win the battle.

Jones revealed that Williams was backed the most, but Adams didn’t believe that it was an obvious debate. “I remember this one moment early on in camp my rookie season. The Packers had drafted three running backs in 2017, and the receivers started taking “bets” on which of us was going to come out on top,” Jones added.

“Obviously a lot of guys had Jamaal since he was drafted the highest. Then one day in camp, Davante walks up to me. He’s the No. 1 receiver, right? Fourth-year and about to make a Pro Bowl. He’s the dude in that room — and he comes over to me on the sideline, I don’t even know why, and he says, ‘I got you as my dog in this race.’

“I can’t even tell you what that did for me, honestly. It was like, OK, Davante Adams believes in me?? It meant a lot.”