Rodgers sat for 3 years, saw some spot duty in 2007 when Favre got hurt in a game against the Cowboys if I recall. (running out of disk space in my brain) Favre kept toying with retirement going back to about 2005 I think, Packers just kind of called his bluff and said ayo we drafted this other guy to replace you, his rookie deal will be up by time we play him. so they just declared Rodgers the starter and Favre ragequit. if I'm not mistaken he did retire but the Jets coaxed him out into a pretty middling performance. then he put it down in 2009 with a revenge fuck move of going from an AFC team back into the division.
also all things considered the Packers did just make another NFC championship game. but Rodgers did have a historic level season. he could theoretically play into his 40s, I think he takes that State Farm money though and hangs it up soon.