Former Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is one of the greatest players in the history of the NFL. A four-time league MVP, he holds multiple passing records and is in the top-ten of multiple passing categories. As of the end of the 2024 NFL regular season, Rodgers ranks seventh all-time in passing yards (62,952), fifth in touchdown passes (503), sixth in completed passes (5,369), and first in passer rating (102.6).
There is no doubt that, when he finally does decide to retire, he will a first ballot inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
That being said, his 2024 season with the New York Jets was a massive disappointment, and there are whispers that he may have been chasing one specific career milestone in the midst of the disfunction.
Former Green Bay Packers Quarterback Aaron Rodgers Was Chasing 500 Career Touchdown Passes
Rodgers came into the 2024 season needing 25 touchdown passes to reach 500 for his career. He got there in the final week of the season after sitting on 499 for a couple weeks since he failed to throw a touchdown pass in Week 17.
Four touchdown passes thrown in Week 18 brought his career total to 503.
According to a report by Rich Cimini, who covers the Jets for ESPN, one anonymous Jets player believes that Rodgers and offensive play-caller Todd Downing called an over abundance of passing plays so that the future Hall of Fame quarterback could get to 500 this season:
“One player speculated Downing was calling plays so Rodgers could reach 500 career touchdown passes (which he did in the final game). There were rumblings Rodgers was audibling out of runs and into passes, although one player insisted it wasn’t as often as it appeared.”
Prior to this statement, Cimini wrote:
“The coaches catered the offense to Rodgers. He finished with 584 pass attempts, second-most in the league, and set a franchise record with 640 dropbacks. They were the most pass-happy team inside the 20-yard line, which may explain why they finished 21st in red-zone efficiency.
“At times, Hall seemed like an afterthought, fueling his frustration. Inexplicably, he never had 20 carries in a game. If Rodgers got close to the end zone, he was throwing; 11 of his 28 touchdowns were five yards or less.”
Prior to Week 18, Rodgers told the media he would not lose sleep at night if he ended his career with 499 passing touchdowns without ever reaching 500.
The fact of the matter is that someone is lying. It is likely that the truth is somewhere in the middle. Either way, Rodgers’ two seasons in New York are not going to remembered fondly by Jets fans.
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