Aaron Rodgers and Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon on How Therapy Is a “Strength”

In the latest episode of “One on One," the Green Bay Packers quarterback and Bon Iver frontman Justin Vernon talk legacy, their “pregame” prep, and the power of getting your head right.
Still from one on one video of Justin Vernon and Aaron Rodgers.

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Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and Bon Iver frontman Justin Vernon first met on Dec. 23, 2012, when Rodgers hosted Vernon in a Lambeau Field suite, where Vernon witnessed a 55-7 shellacking of the Tennessee Titans—a score, by the way, that Rodgers immediately recounted when the two recently caught up for an episode of GQ's "One on One" series.

Rodgers and Vernon have maintained a friendship and admiration for each other's work ever since, so we put ‘em in a room and sat back while they talked about everything: legacy, how they prep to perform, mental health, music, retiring (Rogers plans to play until he’s at least 40; Vernon doesn’t plan to retire...ever), and their favorite football films (guess which one loves Varsity Blues).

The duo also get deep into their pregame routines, which are different, but aiming towards the same goal: Rodgers does breathing exercises; Vernon likes a a drink and a lot of pacing around. Both are looking to calm their minds: “Finding how to slow your breath to slow your heart rate down, takes me down to a more centered spot, where I’m not outside my body thinking about negatives,” says Rodgers.

Vernon’s pre-game came into focus as he got his mind right. “You have to start out well, and think I just wasn’t well for a few years,” he says. “Adjusting to my minor version of being well-known or semi-famous, and all the attention and things like that, you know. I had to deal with therapy to clear out all the junk. I had to re-center everything.”

“The therapy thing is interesting, because I know growing up, that word had a real negative connotation,” replies Rodgers. “Now I think it’s where it should be, as far as the collective thought. It’s an important part of growing. It’s asking for help, which is actually a strength.”

Watch the entire conversation between the two Wisconsin legends below:

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