GREEN BAY, Wis. — Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said it’s been awesome to work with Aaron Rodgers, whose next touchdown pass will be his 443rd, breaking Brett Favre’s career franchise record. 

LaFleur was asked if anything about Rodgers has surprised him since he started working with him.

“The one thing that I don't think you can truly get it a great appreciation for until you work with somebody is just how great they are,” LaFleur said. “Obviously, you always watch the tape from around the league, when I was with other teams. You always kind of marvel at just his athleticism, his ability to throw the football.  Then, when you get around him and you see how intelligent he is, how his mind operates. I think he's the ultimate multi-tasker, in terms of just being able to play the position at the highest of levels, but also take in so much information at the same time I'm giving him a play call. It’s one of the more impressive things I've ever seen.”

Rodgers is pragmatic and at peace playing on the holiday.

“Look, we're in the entertainment business,” said Rodgers. "It’s sports and it's competitive, but we are also entertainers. To be able to entertain on Christmas, I think is a good deal.”

As for the record, Rodgers is reflective.

“Yes, 17 years, a lot of years starting, just have a lot of gratitude for all the people who have had an impact on me during the journey,” Rodgers said. “It's been a great journey. All the guys that I got to share rooms with, and got to be coached by, got to throw to some incredible players. Fun to look back and think about the guys that I’ve thrown touchdowns to. Definitely an interesting group of guys, great personalities, great players. After last season, I knew that I was getting closer, and if I had a decent season this season, I could get this record. Definitely meaningful to me, because of the history of the franchise and how much I have enjoyed my time here.”

Rodgers and Brett Favre have gotten past some uneasiness to be good friends. One piece of advice from Favre in recent days stands out.

“He just said, 'Enjoy it, because it goes by so fast,'” said Rodgers. “The next thing you know, it's over and it goes by so quickly. To be sitting here with gray in my beard at 38 years old, on the verge of breaking one of those milestone records that I watched Favre do, when he threw 420 in the  Metrodome, and 421, and all the other records I got to watch him break.”

Rodgers said that not one touchdown pass comes to mind. It’s more the guys and the moments.