Aaron Rodgers struggled with identity after Super Bowl win

Aaron Rodgers achieved a major milestone by leading the Packers to victory, but he experienced a sense of emptiness that followed.

After the Packers defeated the Steelers 31-25 in Super Bowl XLV in early 2011, Rodgers, the star quarterback, felt a mix of emotions. From not receiving a Division I scholarship out of high school to his draft-day slide, he had faced challenges that fueled his drive to succeed.

In the Netflix documentary “Aaron Rodgers: Enigma,” premiering on Tuesday, Rodgers delved into his conflicting feelings of accomplishing his lifelong dream without feeling completely fulfilled by the triumph.

Reflecting on the aftermath of the victory, Rodgers shared, “It was a special night, but kind of weird what happened afterwards. There wasn’t a great party. You’re kind of exhausted, sitting on the bus at 1 in the morning, having just accomplished the greatest thing ever. You’re left wondering, ‘Damn that was cool, now what?’”

“Now I’ve achieved the only thing I really wanted in life. Now what? Did I aim at the wrong thing, or did I spend too much time on things that don’t bring true happiness?” Rodgers pondered.

He mentioned how off-the-field opportunities, like endorsement deals such as the famous State Farm campaign, created a whirlwind and also alluded to the strained relationship he has had with his family.

“I enjoyed my private life, but winning the Super Bowl changed everything,” Rodgers admitted.

“Enigma” was a joint production by Religion of Sports, Skydance Sports, and NFL Films.

“I was really struggling with who I was and who I wanted to be,” Rodgers continued.

“Dealing with success is one of the greatest teachers in life because it can knock you down multiple times, make you question a lot of things, and push you to figure out your true self. I was searching for ways to fill that void inside. It’s something I grappled with for many years. I had this nagging feeling, ‘Is this all I’ll ever achieve in life? Can I find self-acceptance if this is my only accomplishment?’”

This feeling sparked a spiritual journey for Rodgers, leading him to explore various faith practices and ultimately embarking on journeys with the psychedelic drug ayahuasca to seek his true identity and inner peace.