There's been a lot of talk about Bachelorette contestant Jordan Rodgers' past, but let's focus here on one major aspect of it: Football. Before Jordan set his sites on charming JoJo Fletcher, he was aiming to make it in the NFL. But which football teams did Jordan Rodgers play for? As quarterback, he has signed with numerous teams like the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but he didn't reach the point of receiving actual game playing time on the field. Jordan comes from a football family: His older brothers are successful quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who plays for the Green Bay Packers, and sports writer/entrepreneur Luke Rodgers.
Jordan played for Butte College in the junior college system and received a scholarship to Vanderbilt University, graduating with a degree in Human and Organizational Development in 2012. And he was no academic slouch either — Vanderbilt is ranked at No. 15 in the annual US News and World Report list of the Best National Universities and Jordan landed on the Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll three times, according the Commodore Athletics website. So before he was competing for JoJo's heart, he knew how to play the (football) field.
Here's what you need to know about Jordan's football career.
Butte College
Jordan began his career playing in the junior college system and did quite an impressive job on the field. According to his Vanderbilt athletics bio, the California native led the Oroville, Calif., school to the 2008 National Junior College Football Championship with a 12-0 record, the team's first undefeated season in school history. He also broke offensive records and received academic honors at the college.
Vanderbilt University
Jordan received a scholarship to play for the Nashville school, but he had to redshirt his first year there with a shoulder injury, according to the university athletics website. In college sports language, that means he attended the school, but did not play in any games in order to save a year of eligibility in the NCAA — college athletes only receive four precious years to play.
When Jordan made it to the field in 2011, he became starting quarterback and put up some good passing and rushing numbers, but it was his senior year in which he truly made a mark. His 2012 season put up such impressive numbers that had the Commodores Athletic department comparing him to former Vanderbilt QB and current NFL player Jay Cutler.
Jacksonville Jaguars
According to Fox News, Jordan signed with the Florida NFL team as an undrafted free agent in 2013, but the team waived him four days before training camp was supposed to begin. He had missed Jaguars workouts due to recovering from sports hernia surgery.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
In late 2013, ESPN reported that Jordan got signed to this other Florida NFL team after some impressive workouts with the squad. “He’s a competitor,’’ coach Greg Schiano told the network about Jordan. “He’s not the biggest guy. He’s a fiery guy, who’s a baller ... He’s a ball guy, he loves it, he’s a grinder, likes to study, likes to be around football, likes to be around the locker room."
Weeks later, the team released Jordan back into free agency, according to then-Tampa Tribune reporter Roy Cummings.
Miami Dolphins
In 2014, another Florida team picked up and signed Jordan on a one-year contract as quarterback, reported ESPN. A month later, the network reported that the Dolphins cut Jordan during their offseason program.
BC Lions
So Jordan took his game to Canada — yup, they've got American football there. Jordan signed with the British Columbia squad, but then he abruptly quit in 2015, saying that he was done with the sport, reported the Vancouver Sun.
Fast forward to 2016: Everyone's talking about Jordan once again, as he takes his game to a whole new venue on The Bachelorette. I'm interested to see if he can make it to the playoffs in the realm of the heart.
Image: Rick Rowell/ABC
