Aaron Rodgers Responds To Swag Critique From BYU QB Zach Wilson

PROVO, Utah – Green Bay Packers star and future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers is the quarterback BYU’s Zach Wilson looks up to the most. Wilson has said numerous times in the past that Rodgers is “his guy.”

But when it comes to “swag,” Rodgers isn’t the guy that Wilson is looking for inspiration.

"One college kid took a shot at my swag…

Swag is a mentality, swag is a mindset. I tried to tell this to some of the guys in the locker room. Swagger isn't that you have a SUPREME backpack on…

True swag is owning your inner essence" ~ @AaronRodgers12 #PatMcAfeeShowLIVE pic.twitter.com/DnTqvigdwk

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) December 15, 2020

Last month, Wilson jokingly made some fun of Rodgers’ throwback swag in an interview with ESPN. Wilson said:

“As a player, I love how Aaron Rodgers plays. You know, he’s my guy. But as far as his swag, the way he dresses, he doesn’t have any. He has no swag. If he was to wear a cool helmet, get rid of that single-buckle chin strap, shave a little bit, get rid of the baggy sleeves, you know he could have some cool swag going for him.”

Well, Rodgers heard those comments and brought them up in an interview during the Pat McAfee Show on Tuesday when he was asked by one of the producers on the show why he still wears the single-buckle chin strap.

NO COMPARISON 😤@zachkapono x #BYUFOOTBALL pic.twitter.com/NZaGGhSxqC

— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) November 2, 2020

“To answer your question, now it’s a part of my outfit. It’s part of my uniform. There’s been a couple of people -one college kid- who took a shot at my swag,” Rodgers said.

The 16-year veteran and Super Bowl Champion then explained what “swag” means to him in response to that college kid, who happens to be Wilson.

Aaron Rodgers: “Swagger is a mindset.”

“I don’t think a lot of people really understand what swag is. Some of the younger generation thinks swag is just like, the clothes I wear or whatever. No, no. Swag is a mentality. Swag is a mindset.

“I try to tell this to some of the guys in the locker room this week. I said, ‘swagger, which is what swag comes from; swagger is a mindset. Swagger isn’t that you have a Supreme backpack on. Or that you have your shoes, you know, unlaced or that you have your new Louis (Vuitton) fanny pack that you make sure it’s not worn at your waist, it’s worn over your shoulder. That’s not swag, that’s not swagger. That’s fashion choices.'”

Spoken like a true throwback player right there.

“True swag is owning your inner essence. It’s a mindset,” Rodgers said. “And my essence on the field is that I feel like I’m a throwback player, and I’m a tough guy.”

Wilson, who enjoys the mantra of look good, feel good, play good looks to former Oregon Duck and current Las Vegas Raider Marcus Mariota for inspiration in the swag department. The junior signal-caller for BYU, who has led the Cougars to their first 10-win season in nine years, saw the clip from Rodgers on McAfee’s show Tuesday night and tweeted at Rodgers.

Wow 🤭 I didn’t mean to offend you. 😂😂 @AaronRodgers12 https://t.co/3PTlg1Vnag

— Zachary Wilson (@zachkapono) December 16, 2020

Does this have the makings of a future rivalry for swag supremacy when Wilson ends up in the NFL? The junior quarterback is rising up NFL Mock Drafts and will make a decision after the conclusion of this season on whether he will enter the Draft or not.

“I love that kid (Wilson), though. I do love that kid. I think he’s a good kid and a good player,” said Rodgers. “He actually gave me some props; he just kind of ripped on my swag. I think he was just talking about the fact that I’m older and like to rock sweats on my road trips. But I get that. If you’re talking about like fashion sense, I’m not gonna [impress], you know?”

This lighthearted debate of swag is doing its best to turn around everyone’s outlook in 2020.

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12–3 p.m., KSL Newsradio). Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper and the KSL Sports app.