Highlights from 2021 FOX NFL Season – Week 1

NEW YORK – FOX Sports officially opens its 2021 NFL season Sunday with a doubleheader slate highlighted by AMERICA’S GAME OF THE WEEK featuring Green Bay at New Orleans at 4:25 PM ET. Also included in the NFL on FOX lineup today at 1:00 PM ET: Philadelphia at Atlanta; Seattle at Indianapolis; San Francisco at Detroit; and Minnesota at Cincinnati. The additional 4:25 PM ET matchup features Denver at the New York Giants.

Ahead of the big matchup, Erin Andrews sat down with Aaron Rodgers to discuss his tumultuous offseason and how events unfolded.

Earlier today, FOX NFL KICKOFF and FOX NFL SUNDAY analysts and NFL insiders weighed in on the day’s biggest games, moments and storylines.

Glazer and Afghanistan War veterans share 9/11 impact:

The year of the rookie:

FDNY Bravest Football Team – ‘Never Forget’:

The cast discusses season’s most compelling storylines:

ERIN ANDREWS’ ONE-ON-ONE INTERVIEW WITH AARON RODGERS

ANDREWS: There’s a ton of unknowns as you get set to start your 17th season. Obviously, the turmoil, drama. What would you call it in the offseason? What’s the word you’re using for it?

RODGERS: Contemplation.

ANDREWS: Good, contemplation in the offseason.

RODGERS: That’s what it was for me. I wasn’t intentionally trying to kick up any drama, I didn’t feel like playing things out in the media would do anything toward the desired result, which was, you know, an amicable breakup or a come together.

ANDREWS: Draft day was unbelievable. It was full-blown must-see-TV. They’re saying 49ers, you’re hearing Broncos. Did you think this could be a reality?

RODGERS: Yeah, I did. Because they wouldn’t commit to me past 2021. So, I figured if they wanted to make a change even though I just won MVP, why wait? They drafted my replacement. So, let him play if that’s what you want, but I could also picture myself not playing. So, there was a lot of things.

ANDREWS: You really thought about retirement?

RODGERS: 100 percent. I don’t feel like I have anything left to prove on the field. I think it’s more about the enjoyment and the happiness and the quality of life that this game has afforded me over the years. And being able to 100-percent commit to everything that my job entails, and there were many times during the offseason where I didn’t feel like I was ready to fully do that. And until I was, it was a possibility.

ANDREWS: Last time I saw you on this field — NFC Championship — losing to Tom Brady and his recruited team of all-stars. Did that kind of get the wheels going here that it’s like, all right, front office I’d like a say in this now?

RODGERS: No, it’s been years and years, a decade of having conversations and wanting to have a greater impact in what goes on here. My whole point was nobody knows the squad like I do. Nobody knows the locker room like I do. Nobody knows the way guys respond in clutch situations on the field like I do. How about I have a greater opportunity to speak to some of those decisions? I didn’t think for a guy who probably might have a name up here (on the stadium) at some point that, that was maybe fair for what I’ve accomplished here. I don’t care about credit or fears you might have around giving me more of a voice. I care about winning and about leaving this organization better than I found it. I wanted to make sure I was involved in those conversations moving forward if they wanted me here. So, there’s a lot of unknowns. I just want to be happy. That’s why I’m going to enjoy this season.