FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Saturday, September 8th, 2018
PETER KING INTERVIEWS AARON RODGERS AND BART STARR FOR FOOTBALL NIGHT IN AMERICA
Feature to Air on Football Night in America Beginning Sunday at 7 p.m. ET on NBC; Click Here to Watch Preview
“It meant the world to me because I knew I had the support of one of the greatest players of all-time.” – Rodgers on receiving letters of encouragement from Starr
“I grew up watching old VHS tapes of Super Bowl highlights, and who was in them? The Green Bay Packers.” – Rodgers on history of the Packers
Sunday Night Football Features New, Earlier 8:20 p.m. ET Kickoff Time
STAMFORD, Conn. – September 8, 2018 – NFL insider Peter King interviews Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers and Pro Football Hall of Famer Bart Starr for a feature that will air within tomorrow night’s Week 1 edition of Football Night in America, which begins at 7 p.m. ET on NBC. FNIA leads into Bears-Packers on Sunday Night Football, which features a new, earlier 8:20 p.m. ET kickoff time.
The segment examines the role of both quarterbacks in the franchise’s rich history as the Packers begin their 100th season. King and Rodgers walk through Lambeau Field to the spot in the south end zone where Starr made his iconic quarterback sneak to win the Ice Bowl in 1967. Rodgers discusses his friendship with Bart Starr and his wife Cherry, which is followed by Starr’s reading of a letter he wrote for Rodgers prior to this season. Click here to watch a preview.
Mike Tirico will host Football Night in America alongside Hall of Fame coach Tony Dungy, two-time Super Bowl winner Rodney Harrison, and NFL insider Mike Florio from NBC Sports’ International Broadcast Center in Stamford, Conn. Liam McHugh will co-host Football Night in America on-site from Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis.
Below are excerpts from King’s interviews with Rodgers and Starr. If used, please note the mandatory credit: “In an exclusive interview airing on Football Night in America.”
Rodgers on embracing the Packers’ history: “From the first day I got here and took the tour, you looked around the stadium – Favre’s name wasn’t there yet – you just understood the history. You start looking at Lambeau, Lombardi, Willie Davis, Ray Nitschke, Bart Starr – I’m a huge fan of the game. I grew up watching old VHS tapes of Super Bowl highlights, and who was in them? The Green Bay Packers.”
Rodgers on how his friendship with Starr formed: “It was a sincere appreciation for him reaching out in 2008. When the changeover happened with Brett (Favre), he and his wife Cherry started writing me letters.”
King: “What were his letters saying?”
Rodgers: “They were just super supportive and encouraging. It meant the world to me because I knew I had the support of one of the greatest players of all-time, and definitely one of the greatest Packers of all-time.”
Starr reading from his letter to Rodgers: “You are a strong leader. Cherry and I are admiring you because you are one of the finest men we have ever met.”
Rodgers on the impact of being the Packers’ QB: “This is one of the top positions in all of sports. We feel like we are ‘America’s Team.’ Other teams have taken that mantra from time to time, but we’re just a blue-collar city with a team that’s been around for a100 years and been a part of some incredible NFL history. To me, there’s no better job in sports.”
–FOOTBALL NIGHT IN AMERICA–
