Join our Waitlist for Expert Advice!

Aaron Rodgers Went on a Darkness Retreat to Decide His Fate with the NFL The Green Bay Packers quarterback spoke for the first time after returning from a sensory deprivation facility in Oregon.

By Jonathan Small

Aaron Rodgers, the star quarterback of the NFL's Green Bay Packers, just returned from a darkness retreat in Oregon, where he planned to figure out whether he would play next season or retire.

Appearing on Aubrey Marcus's podcast, Rodgers spoke for the first time about his journey into darkness for two days.

"I spent parts of a couple of days imagining what it would be like to retire and then imagining what it would be like to continue to play," he said.

Last month, Rodgers checked into a sensory deprivation facility called Sky Cave Retreats for a prolonged stay in a room completely devoid of light. He had previously said that he was spending the time in isolation "have a better sense of where I'm at in my life."

When asked if the darkness retreat shed any light on his decision, Rodgers said he still wasn't sure but would know soon.

"I really wanted to contemplate some things with some relationships in my life, some family stuff, and then obviously career stuff, just kind of let whatever was gonna come in, come in. And it did. It definitely did," Rodgers said.

He said he expected some people would not be satisfied with his answer.

"If you don't like it and you think it's drama, you think I'm being a diva or whatever, then just tune it out," he said about this big decision. "That's fine. But this is my life. It's important to me, and I'll make a decision soon enough, and we'll go down that road and be really excited about it."

Related: NFL Player Says He Lived In the Stadium for Two Years To Save Money

More details on the retreat

Before entering the retreat, Rodgers told "The Pat McAfee Show" that he was going on the darkness retreat for four days. But according to reporting by ESPN, he cut his stay short by two days.

Scott Berman, who owns Sky Caves, said that Rodgers stayed in a 300-square-foot room that is partially underground structure and pitch black. His accommodations included a queen bed, a bathroom, and a meditation mat.

Rodgers admitted to Marcus that it was difficult to maneuver in the dark.

"The worst part was being disoriented, coming out of one of those like meditations where you think the bed's over here. And that's how I ran into things multiple times because I think, 'I'm good,' and bang — I ran into the wall, or dang, there's the bathtub."

But ultimately, he found the darkness valuable.

"All the answers are right inside me, and I touched many of them — and definitely the feelings — on both sides during the darkness. I'm thankful for that time," he said.

Jonathan Small

Entrepreneur Staff

Founder, Strike Fire Productions

Jonathan Small is a bestselling author, journalist, producer, and podcast host. For 25 years, he has worked as a sought-after storyteller for top media companies such as The New York Times, Hearst, Entrepreneur, and Condé Nast. He has held executive roles at Glamour, Fitness, and Entrepreneur and regularly contributes to The New York Times, TV Guide, Cosmo, Details, Maxim, and Good Housekeeping. He is the former “Jake” advice columnist for Glamour magazine and the “Guy Guru” at Cosmo.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Business News

You Have One Month Left to Buy a House, According to Barbara Corcoran. Here's Why.

"If you are planning on waiting a year and seeing where interest rates go, you are out of your mind," Corcoran said.

Thought Leaders

These 3 Trends Will Change What It Means to Be an Entrepreneur in 2025

Here are three entrepreneurship trends from the new Global Entrepreneurship Monitor report that are changing the landscape for the future.

Business News

These 3 Side Hustles Make the Most Money While Working Fewer Hours, According to a New Survey

The survey also found that having a side hustle doubled as a path to becoming more employable.

Side Hustle

I Made $14,000 in 1 Week With a Spontaneous Halloween Costume Side Hustle — Here's How

Sabba Keynejad was in art school when he started to refine his entrepreneurial skills.

Franchise

The McRib Is Back, But Only at Select McDonald's — Here's Where to Find It

This scarcity is nothing new. In 2022, McDonald's announced a "Farewell Tour" for the McRib, suggesting that it might be the last time customers could get their hands on it.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.