Now that Aaron Rodgers’ time in Green Bay has come to a detailed with the Packers buying and selling the veteran to the New York Jets as he requested, his tenure with the Green and Gold will be evaluated in its entirety. Rodgers’ run because the Packers quarterback and Brett Favre’s successor was a predominantly joyous soccer rollercoaster: stuffed with the unbelievable ups of thrilling comeback wins, jaw-dropping throws and a Super Bowl title, in addition to the occasional lows of some crushing postseason defeats.
Four NFL MVPs (second-most all time), the best touchdown-to-interception ratio all time (4.52, 475 passing touchdowns to 105 interceptions), the 2 highest single-season passer rankings in NFL historical past (122.5 in 2011 and 121.5 in 2020), probably the most landing passes in Green Bay Packers historical past (475) and a Super Bowl XLV MVP for bringing the Vince Lombardi Trophy again to Green Bay on the finish of the 2010 season.
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In 18 seasons as a Green Bay Packer, 15 of them because the crew’s beginning quarterback, Aaron Rodgers left loads of electrifying reminiscences for followers of the crew and soccer itself. Tom Brady is the one quarterback with extra seasons spent with the identical crew than Rodgers (20 with the New England Patriots from 2000-19).
“I’ve been there 18 years and have a lot love for the group and Green Bay, 18 years — that is an adolescent,” Aaron Rodgers mentioned March 1 on the “Aubrey Marcus Podcast.”
As the Packers put together to transition to Jordan Love because the crew’s new beginning quarterback — after Aaron Rodgers was traded to the New York Jets on Monday — here is a glance again on the future first poll Hall of Famer’s 10 greatest moments in Titletown. Best moments do not essentially equate to Rodgers’ greatest statistical video games, however quite probably the most impactful ones that folks will bear in mind for years to come back.
NOTE: The quantity in parenthesis denotes the season by which the sport was performed, not the yr.
10. Week 5 (2017)
Significance: Rodgers led a scoring drive after getting the ball again with 1:13 left and one timeout. He threw the game-winning, 12-yard landing with 11 seconds left in a 35-31 win in Dallas.
Rodgers’ stat line: 19 for 29 passing, 221 yards, 3 touchdowns, 0 interceptions, 122.9 passer score
Rodgers led the Packers to eight wins in 10 begins in opposition to the Dallas Cowboys, together with two memorable NFC divisional spherical playoff victories. Still, this regular-season game-winning drive will likely be one of many wins that may stand the check of time, partly because of a Snapchat submit that turned a meme. The Green Bay fan beneath showcased a robust present of religion in Rodgers’ potential to guide one other game-sealing drive in opposition to Dallas, and he did not disappoint.
The Cowboys regained the lead late, 31-28, on an 11-yard speeding landing by quarterback Dak Prescott, however that may be the final time Dallas felt comfy that afternoon. Rodgers accomplished his first two passes of the drive for 28 yards, and the Packers crossed midfield on a 15-yard scamper by working again Aaron Jones.
Following the utilization of Green Bay’s closing timeout, Rodgers sprinted out of the arms of the Cowboys’ move rush and scrambled to transform a third-and-8 from the Dallas 30 with 21 seconds to go. Two performs later, Rodgers went to ol’ dependable — a back-shoulder fade to Davante Adams — for the game-winning landing with 11 seconds on the clock.
9. NFC wild-card spherical (2016)
Significance: Rodgers threw a 42-yard Hail Mary landing earlier than halftime of a 38-13 playoff blowout of the New York Giants.
Rodgers’ stat line: 25 for 40 passing, 362 yards, 4 touchdowns, 0 interceptions, 125.2 passer score
A 38-13 opening-round playoff win is not tremendous memorable in totality. However, one play from this sport — the ultimate play of the primary half –will be proven when Rodgers is inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
The Packers led a defensive slugfest, 7-6, with six seconds to play within the second quarter on the Giants’ 42-yard line. Rodgers rolled out to the best, took a pair steps up and launched the soccer on a line simply to the left of the center of the top zone that landed completely in huge receiver Randall Cobb’s bread basket. Touchdown Green Bay. That could be the primary of three scoring strikes from Rodgers to Cobb that day.
The first-half Hail Mary will likely be a long-lasting reminiscence consultant of Rodgers’ signature deep-passing accuracy.
8. Week 1 (2018)
Significance: Rodgers led a 20-point comeback vs. the Bears regardless of a knee harm to spoil Khalil Mack’s Bears debut.
Rodgers’ stat line: 20 for 30 passing, 286 yards, 3 touchdowns, 0 interceptions, 130.7 passer score
The Bears acquired All-Pro linebacker Khalil Mack from the Raiders eight days earlier than Week 1 at Lambeau Field in opposition to the Packers, and he appeared like an all-time nice on this sport, registering a sack, a pick-six, a compelled fumble and a fumble restoration. One of his quarterback pressures got here as Rodgers crumpled to the bottom with 9:21 left within the first half, down 10-0 following a knee harm that precipitated the Packers’ chief to be carted off the sector. By the time Rodgers returned within the second half, Green Bay trailed 20-0.
After his first drive again ended with a 42-yard Mason Crosby discipline purpose, Rodgers completed the sport with three consecutive landing passes: a 39-yard bomb to Geronimo Allison, a 12-yard toss to Davante Adams and the game-winning, 75-yard catch-and-run landing on third-and-10 to Cobb with 2:13 to go.
“I will not neglect this sport for a protracted, very long time,” NBC Sports shade commentator Cris Collinsworth mentioned on the printed. “This is one heroic, particular second within the profession of Aaron Rodgers.”
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7. NFC divisional spherical (2015)
Significance: Rodgers accomplished two Hail Marys on the identical drive, together with a 41-yard landing move to power OT in a 26-20 playoff defeat on the Arizona Cardinals after by no means touching the soccer in time beyond regulation.
Rodgers’ stat line: 25 for 40 passing, 362 yards, 4 touchdowns, 0 interceptions, 125.2 passer score
Trailing, 20-13, and dealing with fourth-and-20 on the Packers’ 4-yard line with 55 seconds left to play, Green Bay’s playoff life appeared pretty much as good as lifeless. Then, Rodgers did his trademark spin round to the left after being flushed out of the pocket by Cardinals move rushers and unloaded a line-drive laser down the left sideline to Jeff Janis for a 60-yard completion.
Game on. Fast ahead to 5 seconds left to play with the Packers on the Arizona 41-yard line, and Rodgers did it once more. He spun to his left, identical to he did three performs earlier, after which rainbowed a heave to the top zone that magically hit Janis as soon as once more in between two Cardinals defenders for the game-tying Hail Mary landing move. One drive, two Hail Mary’s. A Hail Mary is not an official statistic — it is extra like you recognize one if you see one — but it surely’s arduous to recall another quarterback with two of these kinds of throws on the identical drive in that important of a second.
This reminiscence could be greater on Rodgers’ all-time listing if he had been capable of contact the ball in time beyond regulation. The Packers protection surrendered a landing after Green Bay misplaced the coin toss, placing Rodgers within the Josh Allen vs. the Kansas City Chiefs playoff scenario from the 2021 season — six years previous to that sport that led to the NFL’s time beyond regulation guidelines altering.
6. NFC divisional spherical (2016)
Significance: Rodgers tossed a jaw-dropping sideline move to TE Jared Cook to arrange Mason Crosby’s game-winning discipline purpose to eradicate top-seeded Dallas Cowboys on the highway.
Rodgers’ stat line: 28 for 43 passing, 355 passing yards, 2 passing touchdowns, 1 interception, 96.6 passer score
Rodgers, dealing with third-and-20 on his personal 33 with 12 seconds remaining in a 31-31 sport, spun left, uncorked a bullet down the left sideline and completely hit tight finish Jared Cook within the numbers so he might toe faucet earlier than falling out of bounds with three seconds remaining within the sport. The completion was so unbelievable that then-Fox Sports’ play-by-play announcer Joe Buck initially known as the move incomplete earlier than realizing Rodgers made the unattainable come to fruition with that completion. Kicker Mason Crosby drilled the 51-yard discipline purpose to finish the upset. The Packers superior to the NFC Championship sport for the second time in three seasons after a divisional spherical victory in opposition to the Cowboys.
5. Week 17 (2013)
Significance: Rodgers returned from a seven-game absence attributable to a damaged collarbone after which dragged the Packers again into the playoffs with a 48-yard Hail Mary landing on fourth-and-8 in Chicago.
Rodgers’ stat line: 25 for 39 passing, 318 yards, 2 touchdowns, 2 interceptions, 85.2 passer score
Rodgers returned from a damaged collarbone that precipitated him to overlook seven video games within the regular-season finale, a de facto playoff sport, with an NFC North title and the Packers’ playoff life on the road. Facing fourth-and-eight simply previous midfield with 46 seconds left and trailing, 28-27, Rodgers rolled out to the left to keep away from a siege of Bears blitzers, which included future Hall of Famer Julius Peppers, to hit huge receiver Randall Cobb for a 48-yard game-winning landing with 38 seconds left within the sport. A surprising play for anybody, not to mention somebody whose collarbone was positively lower than totally put collectively. It was one other chapter in Rodgers’ domination of the Chicago Bears.
4. Week 10 (2014)
Significance: Rodgers tied a profession excessive with six passing touchdowns — all within the first half — in a 55-14 Week 10 win over the Bears.
Rodgers’ stat line: 18 for 27 passing, 315 yards, 6 touchdowns (tied profession excessive), 0 interceptions, 145.8 passer score
This one is as excessive as it’s as a result of Rodgers took private delight in beating the Chicago Bears. He mentioned as a lot when being interviewed by famous Bears fan Dan Katz, aka “Big Cat” of Barstool Sports previous to the 2022 season.
“Do you truly relish in the truth that you beat the Bears the way in which you do each single yr?” Katz requested on the “Pardon My Take” podcast. Rodgers replied with a smirk and mentioned, “Yes, as a result of it is an incredible sports activities city. If we had been beating up on a city that does not have an incredible sports activities historical past, it is like simply one other win. But, Chicago is Chicago. You acquired 100 years of Bears soccer virtually, you’ve gotten the Chicago Bulls; I grew up a Bulls fan. … We might watch Cubs baseball on WGN with Harry Caray. That was iconic. That and Bulls basketball.”
Rodgers hit 5 totally different gamers for his six touchdowns that night time, together with landing passes of 40 and 73 yards to huge receiver Jordy Nelson, a participant Rodgers had a telepathic reference to. Rodgers’ 24-5 regular-season document in opposition to the Bears is the perfect by any beginning quarterback since at the very least 1950, and his 64 passing touchdowns are additionally probably the most in opposition to Chicago, 4 greater than Brett Favre’s 60. No one beats up on the Chicago Bears like Aaron Rodgers.
3. NFC divisional spherical (2010)
Significance: Rodgers performed probably the most environment friendly playoff sport of profession, powering the sixth-seeded Packers previous the top-seeded Falcons, 48-21.
Rodgers’ stat line: 31 for 36 passing, 366 yards, 3 passing touchdowns, 0 interceptions, 136.8 passer score (highest of postseason profession); seven-yard speeding landing
The 2010 Green Bay Packers snuck into the playoffs and narrowly escaped the Philadelphia Eagles in Round 1 with a 21-16 win after Tramon Williams intercepted Michael Vick in the long run zone with 44 seconds left within the sport. Coming off the primary playoff win of his profession, Rodgers confronted off in opposition to the NFC’s top-seeded Atlanta Falcons within the Georgia Dome in Round 2. The crowd was raucous, however the third-year beginning quarterback silenced it time and again with the soccer virtually by no means touching the bottom as Rodgers accomplished 31 of 36 passes. That sport solidified that he had the chops to go on the highway and win massive within the playoffs, one thing that was fairly useful throughout that Super Bowl XLV run by which the sixth-seeded Packers needed to play away from dwelling in each sport.
2. Week 13 (2015)
Significance: Rodgers led the Packers again from a 20-0 deficit in Detroit in opposition to the Lions, finishing a Hail Mary to tight finish Richard Rodgers to provide Green Bay the 27-23 victory with no time remaining on “Thursday Night Football.”
Rodgers’ stat line: 24 for 36 passing, 273 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 interception, 96.2 passer score; 17-yard speeding landing
This is way from Aaron Rodgers’ greatest statistical sport, however that is the best comeback in his storied profession. While Rodgers all the time carried an air of inevitability in opposition to the Bears, this sport did not really feel just like the Packers had a lot of an opportunity. The sport had extra of “too little time and too many factors to beat” type of vibe. Green Bay regained possession of the ball down 23-21 by itself 21 with 23 seconds to play and no timeouts, a state of affairs that appeared merely hopeless. After back-to-back incompletions and a Lions facemask penalty, the Packers had one final play from their very own 39.
Rodgers danced to his left and stiff-armed a move rusher earlier than working all the way in which to the best and skyrocketing a move to the entrance of the top zone that landed immediately into tight finish Richard Rodgers’ palms for the miraculous, game-winning 61-yard landing. This was Rodgers’ greatest Harry Houdini impression, actually snatching a victory from the jaws of defeat.
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1. Super Bowl XLV
Significance: Rodgers led the Green and Gold again to Super Bowl glory with a 31-25 Super Bowl XLV win over Defensive Player of the Year Troy Polamalu and the Steelers’ No. 1 protection.
Rodgers’ stat line: 24 for 39 passing, 304 yards, 3 touchdowns, 0 interceptions, 111.5 passer score
Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers entered Super Bowl XLV dealing with a Pittsburgh Steelers crew armed with Hall of Fame security Troy Polamalu, the 2010 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, and the NFL’s prime scoring protection that allowed 14.5 factors per sport. The Steelers had been aiming for his or her third Super Bowl victory in six years, however Rodgers’ Packers had different concepts.
He whistled passes simply out of attain of Pittsburgh defenders all night time lengthy, together with a 21-yard landing move to huge receiver Greg Jennings that sailed simply previous the helmet of security Ryan Clark and simply in entrance of Polamalu. Rodgers conquered the NFL’s strongest protection and your complete league, returning the Vince Lombardi Trophy dwelling.
Rodgers’ 15 seasons working the Packers offense offered a few of the most breathtaking, jaw-dropping throws and victories in NFL historical past — one thing followers of the Green and Gold will admire for years to come back.
