Reigning league MVP Aaron Rodgers showed up to training camp on Tuesday, and his look prompted a number of fans — and even ESPN — to compare him to actor Nicolas Cage in the late-nineties action move “Con-Air.”
The Green Bay Packers quarterback, who spent part of the off-season cementing a contract extension — which included a guaranteed $101.5 million — arrived unshaven with his hair down to his shoulders. He wore a white tank top, jeans, and work boots.
“Let’s do this,” the Green Bay Packers captioned a video of Rodgers’ arrival.
Let's do this. @AaronRodgers12 #PackersCamp | #GoPackGo pic.twitter.com/gEgqBhyzJP
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) July 26, 2022
“The reigning MVP showed up as Nick Cage in Con Air,” @ESPNNFL tweeted in response, sharing a photo of Rodgers alongside Cage as Cameron Poe, his character in the film.
The reigning MVP showed up as Nick Cage in Con Air 😭 @AaronRodgers12
(📸 @packers) pic.twitter.com/dpL709lgXp
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) July 26, 2022
“Put … the bunny … back … in the box…,” Hal Sparks tweeted, quoting one of the movie’s most famous lines.
“In which Aaron Rodgers morphs into the real-life version of Cameron Poe …,” Fox News contributor Joe Concha added.
NBA reporter Chris Fedor asked, “Was he going for the Cameron Poe look? Because if so, he NAILED it.”
Was he going for the Cameron Poe look? Because if so, he NAILED it. https://t.co/n7TfhmClPY pic.twitter.com/ThcPyKYR3H
— Chris Fedor (@ChrisFedor) July 26, 2022
“The Con Air reboot looks terrible,” @theclem report complained.
“You have to respect the dedication,” Trey Wingo commented.
“Halloween came early at Packers camp when the GB QB arrived as Cameron Poe in ‘Con Air’ — undershirt, jeans, beard, hair longer than ever. Don’t think Aaron Rodgers wasn’t going exactly for that Nic Cage look. After all, he’s the greatest regular-season QB ever. (Playoffs: 11-10),” Skip Bayless was certain that the resemblance was entirely intentional.
Halloween came early at Packers camp when the GB QB arrived as Cameron Poe in "Con Air" – undershirt, jeans, beard, hair longer than ever. Don't think Aaron Rodgers wasn't going exactly for that Nic Cage look. After all, he's the greatest regular-season QB ever. (Playoffs: 11-10)
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) July 26, 2022
The Ringer’s NFL editor Lindsay Jones added, “It’s not even noon here and we’ve already gotten Aaron Rodgers going full Nic Cage, Tom Brady hawking shake-and-dry swim suits and Joe Burrow losing his appendix. Pretty fun day for my first Ringer NFL Show. Let’s get weird.”
It's not even noon here and we've already gotten Aaron Rodgers going full Nic Cage, Tom Brady hawking shake-and-dry swim suits and Joe Burrow losing his appendix.
Pretty fun day to record my first Ringer NFL Show. Let's get weird.
— Lindsay Jones (@bylindsayhjones) July 26, 2022
“I’m usually not a fan of these dorky camp arrival videos, but man! Aaron Rodgers pulled off the perfect Cameron Poe! Just nailed it….. Makes me wonder if Nic Cage could’ve been a multiple time NFL MVP,” Hans Olsen quipped.
Barstool Sports went a different direction with the video, adding, “Aaron Rodgers looks ready to enter his Brett Favre Wrangler era.”