Aaron Rodgers was close with former coach Mike McCarthy.
The Packers, who have struggled to a 4-7-1 record so far this season, fired McCarthy on Sunday after a loss to the lowly Cardinals. Some have speculated there was tension between Rodgers and McCarthy — who was with the team for 12-plus seasons — but the star quarterback said that was not the case.
"I don’t need to respond to every pundit out there," Rodgers told reporters Wednesday, via ESPN. “I don’t know (how) many times I’ve got to stand here and tell you, I don’t feel like I need to convince anybody about Mike and I’s relationship. It’s a close-knit relationship.”
McCarthy guided the team to a 125-77-2 record, nine playoff appearances and a win in Super Bowl 45 during his time with the franchise. Rodgers said he and McCarthy bonded throughout their time together.
“We would finish every time that we talked — whether it’s Monday afternoon up in his office or the Thursdays we used to spend in the team room or Friday upstairs or Saturday in the QB room — and we’d hug each other and tell each other we love each other,” Rodgers said.
Rodgers, a six-time Pro Bowl player and two-time MVP, has completed 61.8 percent of his passes and thrown for 21 touchdowns and just one interception this season.
The Packers will face the Falcons in Week 14 action Sunday. They’ve lost their last three games.