00:00Aaron Rodgers' time with the Jets was rough, to say the least.
00:03But for nearly two decades, he dominated the NFL, and is arguably the most skilled quarterback
00:09the game has ever seen.
00:10He's pulled off throws that defy the laws of physics, turned broken plays into highlight
00:15real magic, and became the king of Hail Marys.
00:18He's gonna get there.
00:18He turned 32 yesterday, does he have a vintage moment in him?
00:22In the end zone!
00:23All while maintaining the best touchdown to interception ratio of all time, and racking
00:28up four MVPs, the second most in NFL history.
00:31But how good was prime Aaron Rodgers actually?
00:34And did he reach a level of quarterback play that we may never see again?
00:39Coming out of high school, Rodgers was an unranked prospect, and wasn't heavily recruited.
00:43In fact, he began his college career at Butte Community College, a far cry from the bright
00:48lights of Division 1 football.
00:50But even then, his talent was undeniable.
00:53In his one year at Butte, Rodgers led his team to a 10-1 record and a conference championship,
00:57showcasing his pinpoint accuracy and football IQ, catching the attention of Jeff Tedford,
01:03the head coach of the University of California, Berkeley.
01:06And in just two seasons as the Golden Bears' starting quarterback, he racked up 43 touchdowns
01:11to just 13 interceptions, and completed over 63% of his passes.
01:15His ability to read defenses, deliver precise throws, and lead his team made him a standout.
01:21And in a game against the top-ranked USC Trojans, he completed an eye-popping 23 consecutive
01:27passes, tying an NCAA record.
01:29So it was no surprise that Rodgers was widely considered one of the top quarterback prospects
01:33in the class when the 2005 draft rolled around.
01:36And even better, his childhood favorite team, the San Francisco 49ers, had the first overall
01:41pick.
01:41But, on draft day, A-Rod's worst nightmare came true.
01:45The San Francisco 49ers select Alex Smith, quarterback, Utah.
01:52His draft day slide became one of the most talked about moments of the night.
01:57Despite being hailed as a potential superstar, concerns about his mechanics, his attitude…
02:02He gets sacked a lot, doesn't have the ability to change the release of the football, mechanically
02:06very rigid.
02:07And even the system he played in at Cal caused teams to pass on him, over and over again.
02:13The frustration on his face was clear, as the picks kept rolling by, and the cameras captured
02:18every second of his agonizing weight.
02:20When asked about the heartbreak in an interview, Rodgers said,
02:23How disappointed are you that you will not be a 49er?
02:27Not as disappointed as the 49ers will be that they didn't draft me.
02:30But then, finally, with the 24th overall pick, the Green Bay Packers ended Rodgers' free
02:36fall.
02:36However, the Packers already had a living legend at quarterback, Brett Favre, a three-time
02:41MVP and one of the most beloved figures in franchise history.
02:44So for Rodgers, it meant his NFL debut would have to wait, as he began his career not on
02:49the field, but on the sideline, learning from one of the greats.
02:52And Rodgers' time as a backup wasn't without challenges.
02:55Favre wasn't exactly a mentor in the traditional sense.
02:58As the veteran quarterback famously stated,
03:01My job's hard enough to win ballgames and be a leader.
03:04You're not a babysitter.
03:06The relationship between the two was tense, but professional.
03:09And during those years, Rodgers embraced the opportunity to learn.
03:12He studied the game obsessively, mastering the intricacies of the Packers' offense, and
03:17watching how Favre handled the pressures of being an NFL quarterback.
03:21But Rodgers saw limited action in his first few seasons, playing in just seven games and
03:25attempting 59 passes.
03:27By 2008, the Packers made a bold decision.
03:30It was time to move on from Favre and hand the keys to their first-round QB, who'd been
03:35waiting for three years.
03:36The move was questionable, fans were divided, and some questioned whether Rodgers could fill
03:41the shoes of a future Hall of Famer.
03:43But for Rodgers, it was his turn to show the world what he could do.
03:46And from the moment he took the field, he showed flashes of the potential that would define
03:51his career.
03:52Rodgers finished the year with 4,038 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions,
03:58a solid stat line for his first season at the helm.
04:01He also became the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for over 4,000 yards in his
04:05first season as a starter.
04:06However, this season didn't mark the start of Rodgers' prime.
04:09Because while he had a solid year, the team struggled.
04:12The Packers finished the season 6-10, and for the first time since 2006, they missed the
04:17playoffs.
04:17But in 2009, Aaron Rodgers had a full season under his belt, and we witnessed potential
04:22turn into superstardom.
04:23From the start of the season, he displayed an incredible ability to deliver in clutch moments.
04:28He led the Packers to an impressive 4-2 start, with the offense firing on all cylinders.
04:33Rodgers' arm strength and pinpoint accuracy were on full display, as he regularly connected
04:38on deep passes that left everyone in awe.
04:41By the end of the season, Rodgers had firmly established himself as one of the league's
04:45elite quarterbacks.
04:46He threw for 4,434 yards, 30 touchdowns, and only 7 interceptions, finishing with a passer
04:52rating of 103.2, which was second in the NFL.
04:56He also showcased his mobility, rushing for 316 yards and 5 touchdowns, adding another layer
05:01to his game.
05:02Despite Rodgers' stellar play, though, the Packers faced their fair share of challenges.
05:06Sure, they finished the regular season with an 11-5 record, but the team's offensive line
05:11struggled, as Rodgers was sacked a league-high 50 times.
05:15Still, Rodgers found himself in the playoffs for the first time in his career, matched
05:19up against Kurt Warner and the Arizona Cardinals.
05:22And the game started in the worst possible way for Rodgers.
05:25On the Packers' very first offensive play, he overthrew a pass, and it was intercepted
05:30by Cardinals cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.
05:32Arizona capitalized, quickly jumping out to a 17-0 lead.
05:36It was a disastrous start, and many wondered if Green Bay's young quarterback was overwhelmed
05:41by the playoff spotlight.
05:42But Rodgers didn't crumble under the pressure.
05:44Instead, he settled into a groove, and began picking apart Arizona's defense with precision
05:49passes and big-time throws.
05:51Rodgers rallied the Packers back into the game, turning what seemed like a blowout into a shootout.
05:56By the second half, the game had transformed into a heavyweight fight, with both offenses
06:01training blows.
06:02Rodgers ended up throwing for four touchdowns in total.
06:05Every time Arizona scored, Rodgers answered, keeping the Packers within striking distance.
06:09Late in the fourth quarter, Rodgers orchestrated a drive to tie the game at 45, sending it into
06:14overtime, and the Packers seemed to have all the momentum after winning the coin toss.
06:18But then disaster struck.
06:20On the Packers' first possession, Rodgers dropped back and looked for a deep shot.
06:24But before he could release the ball, it was stripped and returned for a 17-yard, game-winning
06:29touchdown.
06:30A heartbreaking loss.
06:31But for the 26-year-old Aaron Rodgers, this was just the beginning.
06:35No one knew it then, but that 2009 season marked the start of one of the greatest primes
06:39in NFL history.
06:41Heading into the 2010 season, one big question loomed.
06:44Could Rodgers elevate the Packers to a championship level?
06:47Unfortunately, the season didn't go the way the Packers hoped.
06:50Injuries dominated the headlines, including key guys like Jermichael Finley and Ryan Grant.
06:55But Rodgers was still able to lead Green Bay to a 10-6 record.
06:58Worse than the year before, but enough to squeak into the playoffs as the NFC's sixth
07:02seed.
07:03Then, once the playoffs began, Rodgers took his game to historic heights.
07:07He led the Packers on a magical postseason run, starting with a dominant performance against
07:12the Philadelphia Eagles in the wildcard round.
07:14Rodgers threw for 180 yards and three touchdowns, including a dagger to James Jones that's
07:20sealed the win.
07:21But the divisional round game against the Atlanta Falcons was when Rodgers really proved he was
07:25for real.
07:26Facing the NFC's top seed, A-Rod delivered one of the greatest performances in NFL playoff
07:31history.
07:31He threw for 366 yards and three touchdowns while adding a rushing score, leading Green
07:36Bay to a stunning 48-21 victory.
07:39The Falcons simply had no answer for his precision passing and creativity under pressure.
07:44And he continued his insane play in the NFC Championship game against the Chicago Bears, delivering
07:49crucial plays to send the Packers to Super Bowl XLV.
07:53Facing the Pittsburgh Steelers' ferocious defense, Rodgers put the finishing touches on a playoff
07:58run for the ages.
07:59He threw for 304 yards and three touchdowns, earning Super Bowl MVP honors and bringing the
08:05Lombardi Trophy back to Titletown in a 31-25 victory.
08:09Now, a lot of times after winning a championship, teams and players can undergo a Super Bowl slump.
08:14But not Aaron Rodgers.
08:16From the first game of the 2011 season, he looked unstoppable, as he shredded defenses
08:21week after week.
08:22Like his six-touchdown masterpiece against the Denver Broncos, or his four-touchdown clinic
08:28on Thanksgiving against the Detroit Lions.
08:30The league had no answer for him, as the Packers tore through their schedule, winning their first
08:3513 games and finishing with a league-best 15-1 record.
08:39And as for Rodgers' individual performance, it was insane.
08:42He threw for 4,643 yards, 45 touchdowns, and just six interceptions, finishing with a
08:49passer rating of 122.5, the highest single-season rating in NFL history at the time.
08:55His dominance was rewarded at the end of the season when he was named the league MVP.
08:59But despite the historic regular season, the Packers' campaign ended in bitter disappointment.
09:04In the divisional round of the playoffs, Green Bay faced the New York Giants, who went on
09:08a Cinderella Super Bowl run of their own, and the Packers suffered a shocking 37-20 defeat.
09:14But the next season, Rodgers wasted no time in delivering another elite season, proving that
09:19the playoff loss was a fluke.
09:21He threw for 4,295 yards, 39 touchdowns, and just eight interceptions.
09:26While he also led the NFL in passer rating for the second consecutive year.
09:30The Packers finished 11-5 and secured a wildcard spot.
09:33But would they be able to make up for the previous postseason's failure?
09:37In the wildcard round, Rodgers shined, dismantling the Vikings with 274 passing yards and a touchdown.
09:43Then, in the divisional round, he faced the San Francisco 49ers, the team that passed on
09:48drafting him.
09:48Unfortunately, Rodgers was unable to take them down, as the 49ers, led by Colin Kaepernick's
09:53record-breaking rushing performance, won 45-31.
09:57But everything was about to change.
10:00Because in 2013, Rodgers once again got off to an incredible start, leading the Packers
10:04to a 5-2 record.
10:06Then, tragedy struck.
10:07In Week 9 against the Chicago Bears, he suffered a broken collarbone, sidelining him for seven weeks.
10:13Without Rodgers, the Packers struggled, going 2-4-1 in his absence.
10:17Rodgers was finally able to return for the final game of the season, in what would be
10:21a must-win game against none other than the same team that injured him.
10:25The stakes couldn't have been higher, and Lambeau Field's hopes rested on a quarterback
10:29fresh off weeks of rehabbing a broken collarbone.
10:32The game itself was a back-and-forth affair, and by the fourth quarter the tension was high,
10:37with the Packers trailing 28-27.
10:39Time was running out, and Green Bay's season was on the line.
10:43Facing a do-or-die fourth and eight at midfield with less than a minute remaining, Rodgers
10:47dropped back, scrambled to his left, and unleashed a perfect strike downfield to a wide-open Randall
10:53Cobb.
10:54The 48-yard touchdown was a dagger to the hearts of Bears fans.
10:57The Packers held on to win 33-28, clinching the NFC North title and a spot in the playoffs,
11:03where they once again found themselves matched up against the 49ers.
11:06But this time, they were determined to get revenge.
11:09Unfortunately, it was disappointment, yet again.
11:12In 2014, Rodgers proved that he was back to 100%.
11:15He threw for 4,381 yards, 38 touchdowns, and only five interceptions, finishing with a
11:22passer rating of 111.2.
11:24Rodgers was especially dominant at Lambeau Field, throwing 25 touchdowns and zero interceptions
11:29at home during the regular season, leading the Pack to a 12-4 record.
11:33Rodgers' elite play was recognized, earning his second MVP award in a four-year span.
11:38But everyone knew how good he was.
11:40The questions surrounded the Packers and if they could get over the hump again in the postseason.
11:45In the playoffs, Rodgers battled through a lingering calf injury, yet he remained the
11:50driving force behind Green Bay's postseason success.
11:53In the divisional round, the Pack hosted the Dallas Cowboys in a controversial game,
11:57because this crucial Dez Bryant catch was ruled incomplete, which caused the Packers to
12:02squeak by 26-21.
12:04The next week, Rodgers and the Packers traveled to Seattle to face the defending champion Seattle
12:09Seahawks.
12:09And with just over two minutes left in the game, Green Bay held a 19-14 lead and seemed
12:14destined to close it out after forcing Seattle into an onside kick situation.
12:19But, like clockwork, disaster struck again.
12:22The onside kick bounced off Packers' tight end Brandon Bostic's hands and was recovered by the Seahawks,
12:27where they capitalized with a touchdown drive, followed by a two-point conversion to go up three.
12:32Rodgers rallied Green Bay for a game-tying field goal in the final seconds, forcing overtime.
12:37But the momentum had fully shifted to Seattle.
12:40And in overtime, Russell Wilson delivered a 35-yard touchdown pass, ending the Packers'
12:45season in heartbreaking fashion.
12:47For Rodgers, it was a cruel reminder that even his brilliance couldn't overcome the unpredictable
12:52nature of football, and 2015 would prove to be no different.
12:56Another season of Aaron Rodgers carrying the Packers on his back, but more playoff
13:00disappointment, this time at the hands of the Arizona Cardinals.
13:02Despite the most outrageous Hail Mary throw you'll ever see from Rodgers, the Packers lost
13:08in overtime, and their fans were becoming increasingly frustrated with the lack of playoff success.
13:13And things continued to go downhill, as the Packers found themselves 4-6 midway through the
13:182016 season. It seemed like the 33-year-old Aaron Rodgers had run out of juice, and was
13:23going to miss the playoffs for the first time since his first year as a starter.
13:26But when asked about the rest of the season, Rodgers said this…
13:30I think you can run the table, I really do, I think the offense is starting to click.
13:34It seemed like a joke, too unrealistic to be true, until Rodgers actually did it.
13:39He led the Packers to six straight wins, finishing the regular season with a 10-6 record and an NFC
13:45North title. Over that span, Rodgers threw 15 touchdowns and zero interceptions.
13:51In the postseason, Rodgers continued his magic. He led the Packers to a thrilling wildcard win
13:56over the New York Giants, and followed it with an unforgettable divisional round victory against
14:00the Dallas Cowboys, where Rodgers' sidelined throw to Jared Cook in the closing seconds,
14:05set up a game-winning field goal. The Packers fell to the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC Championship,
14:10but this season proved Aaron Rodgers was still very much in his prime,
14:14and capable of carrying the Packers to greatness. But in week six of the next season,
14:19Rodgers once again broke his collarbone, and without him, the Packers stumbled to a 7-9 record.
14:25Aaron Rodgers, I mean, this season is just something, it almost feels like a funeral is
14:29taking place. I cannot believe that Aaron Rodgers is going to be out for the year, I'm sick to my
14:35stomach.
14:36Missing the playoffs for the first time since 2008. And although he was healthy for 2018,
14:41things just seemed off in Green Bay. Despite throwing for 4,442 yards and 25 touchdowns with
14:47just two interceptions, Rodgers and head coach Mike McCarthy were no longer on the same page.
14:53The Packers finished 6-9-1, missing the playoffs again, and McCarthy was fired.
14:58With new head coach Matt LeFleur calling the shots, the 2019 season represented a fresh start for Rodgers and
15:04the Packers. Rodgers threw for 4,002 yards and 26 touchdowns, leading the Packers to a 13-3 record,
15:10and an NFC Championship appearance. But Green Bay once again lost to their kryptonite,
15:15the San Francisco 49ers. But with that kind of success after just one season together,
15:20there was hope that the LeFleur-Rodgers tandem could get the Packers back to the Super Bowl.
15:24But then came the drama. For years, the Packers lacked high-caliber wide receivers,
15:29outside of Devontae Adams. So Rodgers began to make it known that he wanted Green Bay's front
15:34office to address the position in the draft. Instead, they went out and drafted quarterback
15:39Jordan Love in the first round of the 2020 draft. And Rodgers found himself in the same position
15:44Brett Favre was in all those years ago, mentoring the player who would eventually be his replacement.
15:49But Rodgers was far from discouraged. In fact, the Love pick lit a new fire in him,
15:54as he delivered one of the most dominant seasons of his career in 2020, reminding everyone that he
15:59was far from finished. Rodgers tore up the league, throwing for 4,299 yards, an NFL-leading 48 touchdowns,
16:08and just five interceptions. His chemistry with Devontae Adams reached historic levels,
16:12as the duo connected for 18 touchdown passes, setting a franchise record. And the Packers finished 13-3,
16:19and secured the top seed in the NFC. In the playoffs, Rodgers continued his stellar play,
16:24dismantling the Los Angeles Rams in the divisional round with a 296-yard,
16:28three-touchdown performance. The Packers advanced to the NFC Championship to face Tom Brady and the
16:33Tampa Bay Buccaneers. But despite throwing for 346 yards and three touchdowns, Rodgers and Green Bay
16:39fell short again, losing 31-26 in a game marked by controversial coaching decisions and missed
16:46opportunities. Rodgers' 2020 campaign earned him his third NFL MVP award, but that elusive second
16:52Super Bowl had him hungrier than ever in 2021. He led the Packers to another 13-3 season, throwing for
16:594,115 yards, 37 touchdowns, and just four interceptions, once again making the extraordinary
17:05look routine, and making sure Bears fans knew it. And he wasn't wrong. Over the course of his career,
17:14he had a whopping 24-5 record over the Bears. 26-5 if you count the postseason. The Packers
17:20finished the 2021 season as the top seed in the NFC, setting the stage for another playoff run.
17:25However, in the divisional round, the Packers faced the San Francisco 49ers. And I'm sure you
17:31can guess what happened next. But for the second consecutive season, Rodgers was named NFL MVP,
17:36marking his fourth career MVP award, a feat that solidified his place amongst the all-time greats.
17:42This last accolade wasn't just another trophy. It was the ultimate exclamation point on an era where
17:48Rodgers dominated the game with unmatched precision, creativity, and poise. His ability to elevate
17:54teammates, orchestrate game-winning drives, and redefine what it meant to play quarterback at an
17:59elite level was something that we may never see again. The Packers did re-sign the 38-year-old to
18:04a
18:04record-breaking three-year $150.8 million deal. But the cracks started to show. Without Davante Adams,
18:11and battling a broken thumb, Rodgers struggled in 2022, and Green Bay missed the playoffs after
18:17a crushing Week 18 loss to the Lions. After which, Rodgers was traded to the Jets in 2023.
18:23He brought renewed hope to New York, but suffered a devastating Achilles tear just four snaps into his
18:28debut. Though he returned in 2024, it was clear that his best days were behind him. But his legacy was
18:35already set in stone, because prime Aaron Rodgers was simply untouchable. His 4.34 touchdown to
18:42interception ratio is the best of all time, by a large margin. But his career doesn't even need
18:47to be measured by stats, MVPs, or rings. All you have to do is cut on the tape and see
18:53the many memories
18:54he gave fans, the impossible plays he made look routine, and the way he owned the Bears.
19:01As his career winds down, football won't just lose a great player. It will lose a once-in-a-lifetime
19:06talent who elevated the game every time he stepped on the field.
19:10If you enjoyed this video, stick with Blitz, subscribe, and check out some of our other content right here.
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