The New York Jets suffered a devastating blow to their championship hopes on Monday Night Football when, four snaps into the game, new franchise quarterback Aaron Rodgers, ruptured his Achilles tendon.
Many NFL fans, including sportsbooks, thought the major loss would all but doom the Jets’ chances against the Buffalo Bills. And for most of the game, that appeared to be the case.
As such, longtime Green Bay Packers fans flooded Jack’s American Pub in Milwaukee, hoping to redeem a sale that offered free alcohol tabs if Rodgers and the Jets lost the first game of the season.
According to a local report from CBS 58, “many patrons cheered” when they realized Rodgers was hurt.
“We’ve been in the bar industry a long time,” bar manager Ryan Cooke told CBS 58. “We were able to put together just a couple of limitations but still keep it as open as possible.”
Some fans attempted to implement a strategy that went out the window with the Rogers injury.
“I came here aggressive. I’m gonna start drinking heavy,” Milwaukee resident Michael Steggeman said before the game. “I don’t care what the score is.”
The drinking got more aggressive as the game went along, with many fans being devastated when the Jets pulled off the shocking upset in overtime against the Bills.
This is incredible. A Wisconsin bar offered free drinks if the Jets lost. After Rodgers went down, they started running up their tabs. The news was live when the jets won in overtime and everyone realized they had to pay. pic.twitter.com/1QDVJq9Zlr
— David Hill (@davehill77) September 12, 2023
The NFL world was quick to react to the brutal news:
Everyone in that bar realizing that they drank enough to need a second mortgage put on their home that night: https://t.co/zl3PA2w5CX pic.twitter.com/8Wk11ULP4V
— Schlasser (@UrinatingTree) September 12, 2023
gotta be honest aaron rodgers blowing his achilles right away and then the jets coming back to win was the funniest possible way to end 1 week. the content is amazing https://t.co/4cUevZtUjt
— Brian Floyd (@BrianMFloyd) September 12, 2023
gotta be honest aaron rodgers blowing his achilles right away and then the jets coming back to win was the funniest possible way to end 1 week. the content is amazing https://t.co/4cUevZtUjt
— Brian Floyd (@BrianMFloyd) September 12, 2023
It takes a lot for me to side against Aaron Rodgers' haters, but lmao https://t.co/8VvfVtWccT
— Jason Kirk (buy my novel) (@JasonKirk_fyi) September 12, 2023
Being a hater is not for a reward and if you attempt reward beyond the downfall of your enemies the world will punish you https://t.co/kSMDoB0G71
— cam (@Cam_Is_Like) September 12, 2023
[CBS 58]
