What would a second Super Bowl victory mean for Aaron Rodgers? Exploring the QB's legacy with Jets trade imminent
Let’s be clear, Aaron Rodgers is the most talented quarterback of all time. However, another Super Bowl ring would take him to a whole new stratosphere.
There are some all-time great signal-callers that only have one ring. Brett Favre and Drew Brees come to mind. There are even some that don’t have a title to their name like Dan Marino.
It's true that most of the all-time greats have more than one ring: Tom Brady (7), Joe Montana (4), and Peyton Manning (2) are all multi-time champions. Now, let’s remember that winning a Super Bowl takes a complete team. That has always been the case. The fact that Rodgers only has one ring is not his fault.
Brady had a top-10 defense in every single one of his career seasons except for two. Rodgers has only had a top-10 defense in three career seasons. Finally, two years ago, all Aaron Rodgers could do is watch as Corey Bojorquez had his punt blocked in January’s divisional-round game. That ended in another home postseason loss.
What about the Brandon Bostick fumble in the NFC Championship game nine years ago? If Rodgers is playing for Bill Belichick or with the 'Legion of Boom' in Seattle, none of these events take place.
Rodgers just needs one more ring. He doesn’t need seven. He just needs multiple at the end of his career. He has already cemented himself as one of the greatest of all time. Multiple rings would put him on Mount Rushmore.
The Chico, CA native has the best TD/INT ratio of all-time (4.52 to 1). He has the second-most MVPs in history (4; Peyton Manning has 5). He is a 10-time Pro Bowl selection. He has the two highest-rated passing seasons in NFL history (2011, 2020). Aaron Rodgers has the best QBR in history (min. eight career seasons). He is a member of the NFL's 2010 All-Decade Team.
Aaron Rodgers' skillset could help the Jets win the Super Bowl
With his time at the Green Bay Packers drawing to a close, it's interesting to consider what Aaron Rodgers could do elsewhere. Everyone is waiting for the news that he has been traded to the New York Jets, which seems imminent. So let's look at his skillset and what it could mean in New York.
Forget the ridiculously impressive statistics for a second. If you look at Rodgers on the field, his abilities are second to none.
He has a top-five arm of all time. He has a sixth sense when it comes to escaping the pocket. He knows when the rush is close. Even at 39 years old, the man is still as mobile as ever. He is more mobile now than Tom Brady ever was in his early 20s. Rodgers' accuracy has always been elite. His ability to draw the defense offside and create a “free play” is the greatest in NFL history.
For those that say Aaron Rodgers isn’t a winner, he has the best active winning percentage among quarterbacks (minimum 100 career games started). He has the eighth-most wins in NFL history for quarterbacks (158). Add his Super Bowl ring to that pile of statistics and awards. This is one of the greatest careers in not just NFL history, but all sports as well.
In Aaron Rodgers’ final game against the Chicago #Bears as the #Packers quarterback - he really led a 4th quarter comeback to help Green Bay become the all-time most regular season winningest franchise in the NFL.
Salute to close that chapter. Legendary.
https://t.co/LLs0O8DLeD
His longevity has been and will continue to prove to be incredible, especially if he plays 20 seasons. He could also join Peyton Manning as the only other player to have at least four MVPs and multiple championships.
If the reports are true that Rodgers is "intending to play" for the Jets, he could become the first QB to lead them to a Super Bowl since Joe Namath over 50 years ago. Aaron Rodgers would be launched into a whole new stratosphere with one more Super Bowl, especially if it comes in New York.
Rodgers doesn’t need 10. He doesn’t need seven. He doesn’t need four. He just needs one more ring. His abilities are second to none. His stats and awards speak for themselves. He is a combination of every great quarterback and/or his abilities. Rodgers has his old friend Brett Favre’s toughness. He has Drew Brees’s accuracy. He has Russell Wilson’s escape ability. He has Peyton Manning’s IQ. He has John Elway’s arm strength.
Another Super Bowl would take Rodgers out of the category of Trent Dilfer and Joe Flacco. It would put him in the category with Peyton Manning, Joe Montana and Tom Brady, something he truly deserves.