After more than a decade, Aaron Rodgers left the Green Bay Packers in the spring and, at almost 40, is looking for a challenge with the New York Jets. In terms of sport, the four-time NFL MVP is beyond almost any doubt. Off the field, however, Rodgers has always caused a stir with his enthusiasm for psychedelic substances. So too now, when he appeared as a guest speaker at a psychedelics conference in Denver.
The 39-year-old has been sharing his experiences with spiritual journeys and psychedelic remedies for years. For example, Ayahuasca, a hallucinogenic plant extract from South America.
Rodgers had eaten this for the first time in 2020. The quarterback sees a connection to that first take and the MVP season that followed. “Ayahuasca. 46 touchdowns. Five interceptions. MVP,” Rodgers is sure where his performance comes from.
According to Rodgers, the drugs unleash a deeper meaning and act as a source that propels the individual toward greater goals.
“How can you perform really well? Well, you fucking want it. You want it badly. And if you don’t know why you want it, you won’t want it that much,” he said, writing his ayahuasca Experiences clarified his goals and gave him a deeper “why” that drives him to peak performance.
“I’ve found a deeper love for myself,” Rodgers said of his ayahuasca experience. “It opened up the whole world for me, where I’m really here to connect with these people, to make these connections and to inspire people.”
NFL: Rodgers supports legalization of psychedelic substances
In the almost hour-long conversation with podcaster Aubrey Marcus, Rodgers called for the acceptance and legalization of psychedelic substances, among other things.
“Isn’t it ironic that the things that expand your mind are illegal and the things that make you stupid have been legal for centuries? We have to change that. The only way to do that is through education,” Rodgers urges.
The quarterback also comments that there is always strong opposition to his statement and attitude, especially online: “I guarantee you that all these idiots who want to attack me online because of my experiences have never tried it,” said Rodgers
“They are the perfect people for this. We have to get these people to try it,” explains the 39-year-old, who also revealed that hundreds of players have already contacted him about his experiences with the substances.