Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers says ayahuasca helps him overcome fears of death in latest appearance on 'The Pat McAfee Show'

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has credited his use of the hallucinogenic drink ayahuasca for his MVP play in 2020 and 2021 and for improving his mental health.

On Tuesday, Rodgers also credited it for eliminating a fear he previously had: death.

"I definitely had a fear of death," Rodgers said Tuesday during his weekly appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show." "Ayahuasca and psilocybin really helped me with that."

He said the use of those drugs relieved stress of him feeling the need to "accomplish things before I actually die.” He remembered as a teenager during Y2K that he had this fear.

But, Rodgers said, ”when you’ve seen the other side it makes the idea of death more of a passage and less of an ending and more so the next chapter of life.”

The seemingly-out-of-nowhere topic of death was spurred by a question from A.J. Hawk following a brief chat about what Rodgers did during the Packers' bye week. But then Rodgers called it "a great question" and dove deep into his answer that resurfaced the topic about his ayahuasca use and also provided him an opportunity to pay tribute to Mike Leach, the successful college football coach who died Monday night.

Rodgers explained he's not talking about life and death in seeing ”the other side“ but "the veil between the seen and unseen world."

Rodgers revealed his ayahuasca use this offseason

As Rodgers hit the podcast scene this offseason, Rodgers revealed that he has used the plant-based psychedelic ayahuasca in South America on multiple occasions.

In September, he clapped back at those who called ayahuasca a drug because it's made from a plant and that he'll likely be called again to use it. Ayahuasca is banned in the United States and contains DMT, a Schedule I substance. There are currently no accepted medical use for hallucinogens in the U.S.

Psilocybin or "magic mushrooms" are naturally occurring and are consumed for their ability to alter human perception. Consuming psychedelics can have adverse short term and long term side effects, including elevated heart rate, nausea and vomiting, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency.

The topic of "fear" isn't out of the ordinary when Rodgers goes on "The Pat McAfee Show." He often used the word "fear" when discussing COVID-19 last season throughout the saga regarding his vaccination status.

He said he didn't have fear because he took ownership over his own health but he had empathy for those who had fear, which he often said was caused by the media.

Rodgers pays tribute to Mike Leach

Also on Tuesday, Rodgers said he was saddened to hear about Leach’s death.

"Revolutionalized the college game," Rodgers said, referencing his teams' Air Raid attack.

Rodgers said he marveled at Leach's high-powered offense, especially after hearing stories from one-time Packers teammate, Graham Harrell, who set multiple NCAA passing records as a quarterback at Texas Tech under Leach from 2004-08.

Rodgers also got to see a Leach-led offense up close when his California Golden Bears played the Red Raiders in the 2004 Holiday Bowl. Texas Tech beat Cal, 45-31, in what was Rodgers' final college game.

“You watch him on the sidelines, he had like a 4x6 little index card that he was calling the plays on sometimes,” Rodgers said. “He just knew the system so well and had such a good feel for the game.”

"Genius," Rodgers called the system Leach, a two-time national coach of the year, ran for his programs.

Leach, who was in his third season at Mississippi State, died of a heart condition after being hospitalized on Sunday. He was 61 years old.

More:Remembering the legendary Mike Leach: What to know about coach's family, football legacy

More:'He was a perfect fit': Starkville, Mississippi State mourn death of Mike Leach

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Aaron Rodgers says ayahuasca helps him overcome fear of death