With the playoff exit of Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady, the big wait begins for the teams of the two superstars. The entire power structure in the NFL hangs on their decisions.

Munich – During the Divisional Round last weekend, a real era came to an end in the NFL. For the first time since the 2009/2010 season, neither Tom Brady nor Aaron Rodgers are in one of the two Championship Games.

While Brady and his Tampa Bay Buccaneers were eliminated by the Los Angeles Rams, Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers were defeated by the San Francisco 49ers. Since both quarterbacks have publicly philosophised about an early career end in the past, many fans are asking whether that time has now come.

The future of the two superstars has never been so uncertain. ran shows the initial situation and the different possibilities:

Tom Brady: Tampa Bay Buccaneers or nothing?

After the Rams loss, Tom Brady didn’t want to talk much about his future: “I haven’t thought about it yet. I’ll just look from day to day now and then I’ll know where I stand at some point,” said the 44-year-old.

He was asked about his possible career end because an “ESPN” report had emerged before the game that this scenario was being discussed frequently, at least within the team. Head coach Bruce Arians also apparently has no idea yet what Brady’s decision will be: “That’s up to him whether he comes back or not.”

Should the long-time playmaker of the New England Patriots hang on for another year, a stay with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is considered very likely. He still has a contract in Florida for the coming season that pays him around 25 million US dollars.

Tom Brady: Residual Doubts Remain

Should he return to the “Bucs”, it is quite possible that he will extend his contract early in order to provide more financial leeway for possible Buccaneers free agents this season. Brady is known to be happy to give up money himself in order to provide the team with more expensive free agents.

And yet, for the first time in the great Tom Brady’s long career, doubts remain as to whether he will actually return this time. Before his departure from the Patriots in spring 2020, the only question was where his extraordinary skills would take him, but now, for the first time, a career end is on the horizon.

Brady has already won the Super Bowl seven times. So there is not much left to prove. But why should the arguably best quarterback of all time quit when he obviously still has so much gas left in the tank? “Physically, I continue to feel very good.” A question that the G.O.A.T. can probably only answer himself in the coming weeks.

Aaron Rodgers: all options on the table

With Aaron Rodgers, on the other hand, the situation is much trickier than with Brady and the Buccaneers. The (still) playmaker of the Green Bay Packers has had a real rollercoaster season. From contract squabbles in the offseason to a stumbling start to being the MVP favourite. The season reads like a typical football movie – if it weren’t for that abrupt end against the San Francisco 49ers.

Even if Rodgers has been talking about a career-ending in recent weeks, it only really became tangible after the 49ers defeat – probably also for the quarterback himself: “It’s all very fresh right now. It’s really shocking for me, I still had a long way to go before the season was over,” he said after the game.

Similar to Brady, he also wants to take his time before making a decision. The big difference with the Buccaneers star here, however, is that Rodgers could leave the Packers even if he doesn’t end his career.

Aaron Rodgers: Packers facing upheaval – with or without the superstar?

“I don’t want to be part of a rebuild if I continue to play,” he declared dejectedly. Meaning: if the Packers fail to put together a competitive squad next season as well, it will be hard to convince him to return.

Rodgers is also aware of the complicated salary situation with the Packers, who are currently $44.8 million in the red for the upcoming season. “There are so many decisions that have to be made. Key players, a lot of guys who played today … so many guys whose contracts are expiring or about to expire and all this salary cap stuff,” he puzzled after the game.

General manager Brian Gutekunst is considered to have his work cut out for him, made all the more difficult by expiring contracts like that of wide receiver Davante Adams. Rodgers could provide more salary cap space with an early contract extension, but the key here will be how concrete the franchise’s plans are, which are likely to be presented to Rodgers at some point in the offseason.

Aaron Rodgers: parting complicated – but not impossible

Because Rodgers still has a contract in Green Bay until 2023, the Packers actually have all the reins. But even last offseason, when the two parties were on a war footing, it rarely seemed like the Packers would really decide where Rodgers would line up in the future.

Eventually, the two sides got their act together and agreed to work together for another year. As NFL experts such as Jay Glazer of Fox Sports reported at the time, Rodgers negotiated a gentlemen’s agreement with the Packers to prevent another confrontation.

He is said to have been guaranteed that no obstacles would be put in his way in the event of future farewell ambitions. In other words, should he want to leave Green Bay, he could demand a trade as early as 2022, or he could leave as a free agent in 2023.

With a cap hit of more than 46 million US dollars, a franchise must have plenty of cap space available in addition to a suitable offer to the Packers in order to lure Rodgers. Motivation will also play a big role in whether the 39-year-old wants to join a completely new team and playing philosophy, much like Brady did two years ago.

Decision has impact on entire NFL

Whatever decision the two future Hall of Famers make, it has implications for the entire NFL. If both playmakers stay with their teams, they are likely to do everything in their power to launch another assault on the Super Bowl.

If, on the other hand, they retire, the league would lose two of the greatest faces in its history in one fell swoop.

Since the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Green Bay Packers are among the absolute favourites in their respective divisions, the balance of sporting power could also turn abruptly here. This would also be the case if Rodgers were to actually change teams – the NFL would have one more title contender in the race, while the Packers would probably first push ahead with a small rebuild with quarterback Jordan Love.

Either way, with two such important decisions, the NFL is at a historic crossroads here, with both Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers having a big impact.