Rodgers claims that by sharing his experiences with the drug, he has piqued the curiosity of many other professional athletes who are now interested in starting their own journeys.
Highlights
- Aaron Rodgers openly advocates for the use of alternative treatments, particularly psychedelics like ayahuasca, crediting them for enhancing his mental well-being and performance.
- Rodgers describes his experiences with psychedelics as transformative, positively impacting his personal relationships and professional performance. He aims to destigmatize their use and promote further research.
- Rodgers also admitted that he has played NFL games under the influence of Percocet, a potent and highly addictive opioid painkiller, to deal with his persistent knee issues.
Aaron Rodgers, the esteemed quarterback who currently plays for the New York Jets, has been a prominent figure in the NFL for over two decades.
As of March 2025, Rodgers is trending in sports news due to reports stating that the Jets are moving on from him for the upcoming season.
Following his exit from the Jets, Aaron Rodgers detailed his wish list for his next NFL team. pic.twitter.com/GqykZ9HzRE
— E! News (@enews) February 22, 2025
This renewed focus on the 41-year-old has resurfaced fans’ interest in his interesting approach to mental well-being and overall health.
Rodgers Has Been Open About His Use Of Psychedelics And Advocates For Its Destigmatization
Beyond his on-field achievements, Rodgers has garnered attention for his candid discussions regarding the use of alternative treatments, particularly psychedelics.
In June 2023, he openly credited substances like ayahuasca for enhancing his mental well-being and performance.
Ayahuasca is a hallucinogenic tea made from the Banisteriopsis caapi vine stems and the Psychotria viridis shrub leaves.
The combination of these plants creates a powerful psychedelic experience due to the presence of DMT and harmala alkaloids.
Besides ayahuasca, he has also mentioned participating in a darkness retreat and undergoing Panchakarma cleanses.
Rodgers has been an advocate for the acceptance of such treatments, sharing his personal experiences on various platforms, including a psychedelics conference in Denver, the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS).
🚨🚨THIS IS CRAZY🚨🚨
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) December 3, 2024
THIS NEW DOCUMENTARY ON AARON RODGERS IS WILD…
WE HAVE NEVER SEEN AN ATHLETE LIKE HIM.
It dives deep into Aaron‘s usage of ayahuasca, a psychedelic.
🤯🤯🤯pic.twitter.com/r81HFpyqp4
Rodgers has described his experiences with psychedelics as transformative, stating that they have positively impacted his personal relationships and professional performance.
His advocacy aims to destigmatize the use of these substances and promote further research into their potential benefits.
During the psychedelics conference in Denver, Aaron said about his ayahuasca experience,
I found a deeper self love. It unlocked that whole world of what I’m really here to do is to connect, to connect with those guys, and to make those bonds and to inspire people.
NBC NEWS
He added,
When I first did ‘aya’ in 2020, I remember thinking afterwards, like, I’m going to have to talk about this at some point. Are people ready? How will it be received? Then I won MVP. Then I did it again. I said OK, I can probably talk about it now. But the cool thing has been the response. Not from the media that calls me a druggie, a hippie or whatever it was
CBS SPORTS
𝗧𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚: Aaron Rodgers high on AYAHUASCA in Brazil talking about living like a BUTTERFLY.
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) December 19, 2024
😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/faS26qoxw6
According to Rodgers, many fellow NFL players have reached out to him to learn about his experiences and explore the potential benefits for themselves.
He firmly believes that psychedelics can help athletes with mental health challenges and enhance their performance.
Rodgers said in the Denver conference,
To see basketball players and baseball players and surfers and entertainers and my own teammates and colleagues across the league reach out, and either share their story about their own medicine journey or ask to be a part of an upcoming one, is pretty special.
CBS SPORTS
Rodgers Also Admitted To Playing Games On Percocet
In an episode of the Joe Rogan Experience Podcast, Aaron Rodgers admitted to playing games while under the influence of Percocet, a strong and highly addictive opioid painkiller.
He then further discussed the ease of accessing dangerous opioids like oxycodone, Percocet, and Vicodin in the NFL.
Rodgers mentioned that he used Percocet for pain management, especially to deal with knee issues he had for a long time, although he acknowledged that it was ultimately a “stupid” decision, even though he wasn’t taking high dosages.
Aaron Rodgers admits playing NFL games on percs 😳 pic.twitter.com/5ESUFkWsT6
— Daily Loud (@DailyLoud) August 29, 2022
Rodgers also criticized the NFL’s approach to pain management, highlighting the ease with which players could obtain addictive painkillers and expressing his dismay at the league’s reluctance to embrace natural remedies.
As He Enters His Twilight Years In The NFL, A Possible Trade Is Underway
Aaron Rodgers began his NFL journey with the Green Bay Packers in 2005, where he achieved significant success, including multiple MVP awards and a Super Bowl victory.
In 2023, he transitioned to the New York Jets, bringing his veteran experience to the team.
During the 2024 season, Rodgers started all 17 games, passing for 3,897 yards and 28 touchdowns, marking the third-best single-season totals in franchise history.
Over 7 minutes of Aaron Rodgers ➡ Garrett Wilson 2024 #Jets highlights 🎯🎶 pic.twitter.com/ruATwX660l
— Harrison Glaser (@NYJetsTFMedia) January 29, 2025
Despite these contributions, reports from February 2025 state that the Jets are moving on from Rodgers for the upcoming season, possibly due to his age—he turned 41 in December 2024—and the team’s desire to explore other options at the quarterback position.
Jets’ chairman Woody Johnson said in a statement,
I personally want to thank Aaron for his time at the New York Jets. His arrival in 2023 was met with unbridled excitement and I will forever be grateful that he chose to join us to continue his Hall of Fame career. From day one, he embodied all that it meant to be a New York Jet, embraced our fans, and immersed himself in our city. That is what I will remember most when I look back at his time here. He will always be welcome, and I wish him only the best in whatever he chooses to do next.
newyorkjets.com
As Rodgers approaches the twilight of his career, speculation about his next move has intensified.
Some reports have linked him to teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers, where a strong relationship with head coach Mike Tomlin could facilitate a potential move.
BREAKING: Jets informed Rodgers in a meeting last week they are moving on
— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) February 9, 2025
He flew back to NJ just to be told it was over per @JayGlazer pic.twitter.com/YiZKXdG4CA
At 41-year-old, Rodgers continues to defy the typical aging curve associated with NFL quarterbacks, maintaining a high level of play.
His openness to alternative treatments and focus on mental well-being may have contributed to his longevity in the sport.
As the 2025 season approaches, fans and analysts alike are keen to see where this seasoned quarterback will next apply his talents.
Additional Information
- The NFL and the NFL Players Association have clarified that ayahuasca is neither a prohibited substance under the league’s substance-abuse policy nor its performance-enhancing drug (PED) policy.
- The primary psychoactive ingredient in ayahuasca, N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), is classified as a Schedule I drug under federal law in the U.S. Despite this, the NFL’s policies do not currently consider ayahuasca use a violation.
