Aaron Rodgers leaving Jets teammates 'starstruck' and 'in awe'

Aaron Rodgers is a four-time MVP and a no-doubt first-ballot Hall of Famer. He's more than that, though. From talk shows to insurance commercials to dating the Hollywood elite and even to hosting "Jeopardy!" Rodgers is a pop-culture icon.

That brand may have grown a bit stale in Green Bay, where he played for 18 seasons with the Packers. Yes, he won a Super Bowl in green and yellow back in 2010, but his star persona and quirky personality might have started rubbing some in Green Bay — including the fans — the wrong way.

His star power is welcome with the New York Jets, though. In fact, some of his younger teammates are finding themselves needing a moment to take it all in. 

"This is something 20 years from now, 30 years from now, I'll tell my kids: 'I played with Aaron Rodgers,'" wideout Garrett Wilson said, per ESPN's  Rich Cimini.

Linebacker Quincy Williams admitted to being "starstruck" regarding his new teammate, while guard Alijah Vera-Tucker called being in a huddle with Rodgers "a surreal feeling."

Even cornerback Sauce Gardner — a budding superstar in his own right — felt he was playing second-fiddle to Rodgers when the two recently took in a New York Knicks playoff game.

"Everybody knew who he was," Gardner said. "I was able to be in his shadow a little bit. It was a great feeling."

And as far as Rodgers on the football field? 

"I always catch myself watching him, watching how smooth he looks and how it makes it look effortless," Gardner explained.

The Jets are certainly in the honeymoon phase with Rodgers, and it very well could last a long time. New York had a talented roster before completing the big trade, and now that the Jets have the cerebral quarterback — they feel they have all the pieces to make a Super Bowl run.

It will be interesting to see how long the honeymoon phase lasts, though. For what it's worth, Rodgers' last (and only) appearance in the Super Bowl was more than 10 years ago. His past two seasons have ended on very underwhelming and far from elite notes.