Aaron Rodgers’ New Mantra: From “R-E-L-A-X” to “Bolero Bliss”

Ten years ago, Aaron Rodgers, the zen master of the gridiron, famously told a jittery Green Bay Packers fan base to “R-E-L-A-X” after a rocky 1-2 start. Fast forward to today, and Rodgers, now donning the green and white of the New York Jets, has dusted off his old mantra, giving it a fresh twist for the modern era.

After the Jets’ less-than-stellar 32-19 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Monday night, Rodgers decided it was time to calm the stormy seas of fan anxiety. On Wednesday, he delivered a revised version of his classic advice, aimed at both fans and teammates who might be feeling a bit edgy about the team’s current plight.

“I think we always have to stay relaxed,” Rodgers said, channeling his inner yoga instructor. “It’s a long season. I think, at times, people think the season is like you’re out in the prairie or the desert and you’re moving around trying to find water, but it’s more like a nice, slow Bolero, where we’re just swaying with the music and reacting to whatever comes to us and through us, just trying to not get too high with the highs or too low with the lows.”

Yes, you heard that right. Rodgers has gone from spelling out “relax” to comparing the NFL season to a slow, sensual dance. One can only imagine the Jets’ locker room, with players swaying gently to the rhythm of a Bolero, trying to find their inner peace while the world around them panics.

Perhaps fittingly, the Jets will head to Music City in search of their first win, facing the Tennessee Titans on Sunday at Nissan Stadium. It’s almost poetic, really. The Jets, fresh off a loss that fueled fan panic, now looking to find their groove in a city known for its musical heritage.

“The league is a lot different than when I said ‘relax’ years ago in that there’s just so much more coverage [and] there’s so much more opportunity for overreaction,” Rodgers said. “So I get it. We want to win, the fans want to win, the organization wants to win, but the process has to be the same.”

Rodgers’ original “R-E-L-A-X” comment worked wonders for the Packers, who went on to win four straight games, finish 12-4, and reach the NFC Championship Game. Now, he’s hoping his new mantra will have a similar effect on the Jets. After all, if it worked once, why not try it again?

Reflecting on the past year, Rodgers shared that he received an early morning text reminding him of the anniversary of his Achilles injury. “There was a lot of emotion, a lot of perspective and gratitude. So a lot has changed in the year and I’m glad to still be playing and feel healthy,” he said, clearly focused on the future and the next opponent.

Against the 49ers, Rodgers completed 13 of 21 attempts for 167 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Not bad for a guy who spent the last year recovering from a major injury. “I feel good about what I did out there,” he said. “For the most part, I felt like my feet were good, the perfunctory signals were good [and] subtle adjustments. There are some things I can clean up, for sure, but it was good to get back out there and feel like I was in the flow at least.”

Tight end Tyler Conklin echoed the sentiment, praising Rodgers’ performance. “He looked awesome. Some of the throws that he made out there, obviously he didn’t lose his arm talent, right? That was his first time playing football in a year, so I can only imagine how he’s going to be feeling after we get rolling.”

As the Jets prepare to face the Titans, they’ll need to tighten up their defense, which gave up eight straight scoring drives on Monday night. But with Rodgers’ new mantra of “Bolero Bliss,” perhaps they’ll find the rhythm they need to turn things around.

So, Jets fans, take a deep breath, sway to the music, and remember: it’s a long season. And if all else fails, just “R-E-L-A-X.”