Aaron Rodgers: Six Greatest Career Disappointments

While Aaron Rodgers won four NFL MVP awards, he managed only one Super Bowl victory. The lack of big-game success will haunt him and the franchise as he embarks on a fresh start with the New York Jets.

Author:
Bill Huber
Updated:
Apr 24, 2023 11:18 PM EDT
Original:
Apr 24, 2023

In this story:

Green Bay Packers

GREEN BAY, Wis. – By just about every statistical measure, Aaron Rodgers leaves the Green Bay Packers as one of the greatest quarterbacks and players in NFL history.

Only Peyton Manning won more than Rodgers’ four MVPs. In NFL history, he’s No. 1 in touchdown-to-interception ratio, No. 2 in passer rating and No. 5 in touchdown passes. He led the Packers to the playoffs in 11 of his 15 seasons.

However, the Packers failed to reach the playoffs in 2022. He never got rolling following the offseason trade of Davante Adams, and a broken thumb robbed him of some of his customary efficiency. Statistically, Rodgers had the worst season of his career as the Packers crashed to an 8-9 finish.

Nonetheless, it appeared Rodgers would be back for Year 19 in a Green Bay uniform instead of ready to embark on a new challenge with the New York Jets.

“You’re talking about a four-time MVP, right?” general manager Brian Gutekunst said at the end of the season. “So, we are very excited about Jordan (Love) and where he’s at, there’s no doubt about that, but Jordan’s never played a 16-, 17-game season and gone through all that stuff. So, it’s no different than when we moved from Brett to Aaron, right? Where Aaron’s at, the level he’s at, there’s not many teams he wouldn’t give the best chance to win.”

He won’t get that chance in Green Bay, meaning that, for all his legendary performances, he is leaving Green Bay with just one Super Bowl ring.

“I have so much respect for Aaron, not only the person but the player that he is,” Gutekunst said on Monday, shortly after news of the trade broke. “There’s so much gratitude in what he’s done for this organization.

“I know this; He’ll always be a Packer. He’ll be one of the best who have ever done it around here. I have a lot of respect how he went about it. He’ll be missed, there’s no doubt about it. Players like that don’t come around very often but, at the same time, we’re really excited where we’re headed and what we’re moving to do and wish him nothing but the best. Again, this has got to get finalized before all this is done. Just a lot of appreciation for him.”

Here are six of Rodgers’ greatest disappointments. They are not ranked; you could argue they’re all tied for No. 1.

The Un-Dynasty

When the Packers beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Super Bowl on Feb. 6, 2011, everything seemed in place for a dynasty.

“I’ll tell you what, Green Bay: We’re going to be right here next year doing this exact same thing,” Rodgers said at the welcome-home celebration.

Of course, the Packers never returned to the Super Bowl. As a player, all you can ask for is a chance. Rodgers gave the Packers chance after chance after chance to add another Super Bowl championship. It didn’t happen.

Some things, such as the defense and special teams, injuries and personnel moves, were out of his control. Some things, such as making the pivotal play in the pivotal moment, were in his control.

Rodgers racked up four MVPs and astounding numbers. During his starting tenure, no team in the NFC won more regular-season games. But in the biggest moments, the Packers let one opportunity after another slip through their fingers.

It's all part of an incredibly complicated legacy.

NFC Championship at Seattle in 2014

This might be the worst loss that any team in NFL history has endured. The what-ifs are many.

- What if Michael Bennett had been flagged for being offside on Rodgers’ deep shot to Davante Adams that was intercepted by Richard Sherman in the end zone on the opening drive?

- What if Mike McCarthy had gone for it on back-to-back fourth-and-goals at the 1?

- What if the Packers had scored more than six points on five takeaways?

- What if the special teams not fallen asleep and allowed a touchdown on a fake field goal?

- What if Julius Peppers had not told Morgan Burnett to take a dive following his fourth-quarter interception?

- What if Brandon Bostick had done his job on the fateful onside kick?

It all added up to Green Bay blowing leads of 16-0 at halftime and 19-7 with 11 minutes to go and losing 28-22 in overtime.

NFC Championship vs. Tampa Bay in 2020

Here are two more what-if questions. What if David Bakhtiari not suffered a torn ACL at practice late in the season? And what if Lambeau Field were filled with fans for the NFC Championship Game vs. the Buccaneers?

For years, Rodgers wanted to host an NFC Championship Game. When he got the chance, he had an empty stadium due to COVID, an unseasonably warm day and Billy Turner at left tackle and Rick Wagner at right tackle.

It’s impossible to believe the Packers would have given up five sacks with Bakhtiari at left tackle. And without five sacks, maybe Rodgers makes the one or two more plays necessary to slay the Tom Brady-led Buccaneers.

Instead, Allen Lazard was yanked on an end-of-first-half interception that Brady turned into a deep touchdown vs. Kevin King. Then, in the waning moments, Rodgers fell short on first-and-goal, and coach Matt LaFleur kicked a field goal and bet the season on the defense to stop the immortal Brady.

Late-Game Failures

Rodgers doesn’t escape blame, especially for his fourth-quarter performances in the last three season-ending losses. In the 2020 NFC title game vs. Tampa Bay, Rodgers was 4-of-11 for 54 yards and led the offense to three points. In the 2021 divisional round vs. San Francisco, Rodgers was 4-of-7 for 17 yards and led the offense to three points. In the 2022 finale vs. Detroit, Rodgers was 2-of-6 for 12 yards and led the team to zero points.

In those three games – all at Lambeau, where the Packers were once-upon-a-time invincible in January – he was 10-of-24 passing for 83 yards with zero touchdowns and one interception. That’s a 33.9 passer rating. Green Bay scored two field goals in eight possessions.

Revenge of the 49ers

San Francisco could have drafted Rodgers with the No. 1 pick of the 2005 draft. Would the 49ers have been better off with Rodgers than Alex Smith? Of course. But the 49ers owned Rodgers in the playoffs.

San Francisco won all four playoff matchups, including walkoffs at Lambeau Field in 2013 and 2021 and blowouts at San Francisco in 2013 and 2019. Rodgers wasn’t bad in any of the games. He just wasn’t good enough. Four of his five touchdowns came in the blowout losses. In the close games, he threw for 402 yards with one touchdown.

The Front Office

In 2011, when Rodgers rose to absolute stardom and won his first MVP, the receivers were Donald Driver, Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson, James Jones and rookie Randall Cobb. In 2014, when the Packers got to the championship game at Seattle and Rodgers won his second MVP, the primary receivers were Nelson, Cobb and rookie Davante Adams.

For too long, the Packers ignored the receiver position and counted on Rodgers to carry the load. Would they have won another Super Bowl had Ted Thompson drafted JuJu Smith-Schuster instead of Quinten Rollins? Or Terry McLaurin instead of Jace Sternberger? Or Christian Kirk instead of Josh Jones? Would they have won another championship had Gutekunst drafted Deebo Samuel instead of Darnell Savage? Or, infamously for a team coming off a trip to the NFC title game, Tee Higgins instead of Jordan Love?

It's not just the receiver position. What if Thompson had done something – anything – in free agency? Or what if the Packers hadn’t ignored their special teams for years upon years? The front office did a good job of keeping the nucleus of quality teams together. It did a lousy job of providing the extra pieces necessary to win another championship.