GREEN BAY/WASHINGTON, D.C. -- President Barack Obama, in an interview with GQ Magazine published last week, compared himself to Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers when it comes to the tough job of leading the country.
President Obama made the comparison when responding to this question: "Was there a point in those first three years where you started to feel overwhelmed by the job? Where you were just like, 'My God, I just had no idea this was going to be this hard!'"
"...maybe Rodgers in the pocket -- in the sense of -- you can't be distracted by what's around you. You've got to be looking downfield. And I think that's a quality that I have -- not getting flustered in what's around me. So there was never a point, even early on -- even in the first six months, where we weren't sure whether we were going to dip into another Great Depression, we weren't sure whether the steps we were taking on rescuing the auto industry or stabilizing the financial system were going to work -- there weren't moments where I thought, 'Sheesh, feels like we're in over our head,'" President Obama told GQ interviewer Bill Simmons.
This wasn't the first time President Obama, a Chicago Bears fan, has spoken positively about the Packers QB.
According to ESPN.com, when the Packers visited the White House after their Super Bowl XLV win, they presented President Obama with an honorary share of Packers stock, to which Obama replied:
"If I'm a part owner, what I'm thinking is we should initiate a trade to send Rodgers down to the Bears. What do you think?"
Rodgers last week responded to President Obama's comparison -- saying he was flattered.
"I know that's probably tough for him because he's a big Bears fan. I appreciate that. He has a lot more responsibility, I think, than I do, and a tough job to do. I appreciate the comment. That's the highest form of respect that I can get from him, so I really appreciate that, especially being a Bears fan," Rodgers said.
The post-Super Bowl visit to the White House was actually Rodgers' second encounter with Obama, according to ESPN.
He first President Obama him in 2010, when the Packers played the Redskins, and he and some teammates toured the White House.
CLICK HERE to access the complete interview with President Obama at GQ.com.