Is Aaron Rodgers the Greatest Quarterback of All Time?
The obvious answer to the titular question is "no", since at 29 years of age, Aaron Rodgers hasn't put in enough years to make a claim as the greatest QB ever. The guys who have been around for 15-20 years, proving their mettle over time, that's who gets to be the greatest of all time, not some kid who hasn't even reached his thirties yet. It's names like Montana, Unitas, Elway, and even Brady and Manning that dot most lists of the best to play the position, while after just five seasons as a starter, Rodgers shouldn't even be considered. Should he?
It's easy to look at overall statistics, like Brett Favre's 71,000 yards passing and 500 touchdowns, or the number of Super Bowl rings a QB has, such as Joe Montana's four, and leave it at that. However, those are cumulative stats, which don't tell the whole story. Compare some other stats that show a more complete picture and you get some interesting information. Rodgers has the second highest completion percentage in NFL history, and Chad Pennington (not in the discussion of the best ever) is the only player ahead of him. He also throws a TD on 6.4% of his passes, 7th best ever, and ahead of any QB who played after 1970. On the flip side, his 1.7% interception rate is the best ever, a good bit ahead of Tom Brady, who's second. If you like yardage stats, at nearly 255 per game, Rogers is 5th best, and his 8.1 yards per attempt is the 4th highest ever. Passer rating isn't necessarily a great metric in general, but it's interesting to note that Rodgers has a career rating of 104.9, which is the highest of all time. The second highest is Steve Young, who at 96.8 isn't even close. Statistically speaking, if Rodgers keeps up a pace anywhere near what he has been for a few more years, his cumulative numbers will be next to, or higher than nearly all of the greats.
Stats, obviously, aren't everything, especially when talking about the QB position. A great QB wins games and rings. In terms of wins, Rodgers can't compete, but when broken down to winning percentage, again Rodgers stacks up. He has won 67% of his regular season starts, which is right with every great QB not named Brady (who has won a ridiculous 78% of his regular season starts). In the postseason, where legends are made, Rodgers is 5-3, though one of those losses was in a game where he put up over 40 points and his defense gave up 50. He does have a Super Bowl win under his (championship) belt and an league MVP award. The Packers appear primed for the future and it's apparent that he'll get more shots to improve the postseason record, and possibly add another ring or two to his resume. Peyton Manning has famously accumulated an under .500 record in the playoffs, and has a reputation, though maybe unfairly, as one who wilts on the biggest stage. Rodgers has a playoff passer rating of 103, while completing 66% of his passes for 18 TDs and 5 INTs. Again, if these numbers hold up, they'll place him with the postseason greats as well.
Aside from quantifiable metrics, a QB needs to pass the eye test. When that player is watched, do the watchers know they're seeing greatness? Does he attract the eye of everybody who's watching the game? Does he make them say "WOW"? Anybody who has watched Aaron Rodgers knows the answer to all of those is "YES", resoundingly so. From his megawatt smile to his fiery TD celebrations to his cannon arm that allows jaw-dropping throws that some of the all time greats could only dream of, Rodgers has it all. When he's on the field with the ball in his hands, it seems as if something magical will happen, and once the ball is snapped, it's almost expected that something that's never been seen before just might happen. He's the kind of player that you pay to see, even if you're not a Packers fan, and the kind of player that players on the other side of the field hate to face.
It's probably too soon to crown Rodgers as the greatest QB to ever grace the NFL. He's just 29, and has a few more years to go, hopefully. He could suffer a catastrophic injury, his team could take a drastic turn for the worse, or he could age poorly and lose it. If any of those things happen, he'll be remembered as great, but not the greatest. Regardless of what happens, this five year stretch by Rodgers is as good as anyone has ever seen. Still not a believer? Turn on a Packers game sometime this season and keep an eye on #12. Watch him take command of the offense as well as anybody ever has. Watch him make an impossible move at the last second and make something out of nothing. Watch him step up in the pocket and throw a laser-beam 60 yards downfield between two defenders for a "how did he do that?" TD. Just watch him. You might be watching the greatest QB in NFL history.
It's easy to look at overall statistics, like Brett Favre's 71,000 yards passing and 500 touchdowns, or the number of Super Bowl rings a QB has, such as Joe Montana's four, and leave it at that. However, those are cumulative stats, which don't tell the whole story. Compare some other stats that show a more complete picture and you get some interesting information. Rodgers has the second highest completion percentage in NFL history, and Chad Pennington (not in the discussion of the best ever) is the only player ahead of him. He also throws a TD on 6.4% of his passes, 7th best ever, and ahead of any QB who played after 1970. On the flip side, his 1.7% interception rate is the best ever, a good bit ahead of Tom Brady, who's second. If you like yardage stats, at nearly 255 per game, Rogers is 5th best, and his 8.1 yards per attempt is the 4th highest ever. Passer rating isn't necessarily a great metric in general, but it's interesting to note that Rodgers has a career rating of 104.9, which is the highest of all time. The second highest is Steve Young, who at 96.8 isn't even close. Statistically speaking, if Rodgers keeps up a pace anywhere near what he has been for a few more years, his cumulative numbers will be next to, or higher than nearly all of the greats.
Stats, obviously, aren't everything, especially when talking about the QB position. A great QB wins games and rings. In terms of wins, Rodgers can't compete, but when broken down to winning percentage, again Rodgers stacks up. He has won 67% of his regular season starts, which is right with every great QB not named Brady (who has won a ridiculous 78% of his regular season starts). In the postseason, where legends are made, Rodgers is 5-3, though one of those losses was in a game where he put up over 40 points and his defense gave up 50. He does have a Super Bowl win under his (championship) belt and an league MVP award. The Packers appear primed for the future and it's apparent that he'll get more shots to improve the postseason record, and possibly add another ring or two to his resume. Peyton Manning has famously accumulated an under .500 record in the playoffs, and has a reputation, though maybe unfairly, as one who wilts on the biggest stage. Rodgers has a playoff passer rating of 103, while completing 66% of his passes for 18 TDs and 5 INTs. Again, if these numbers hold up, they'll place him with the postseason greats as well.
Aside from quantifiable metrics, a QB needs to pass the eye test. When that player is watched, do the watchers know they're seeing greatness? Does he attract the eye of everybody who's watching the game? Does he make them say "WOW"? Anybody who has watched Aaron Rodgers knows the answer to all of those is "YES", resoundingly so. From his megawatt smile to his fiery TD celebrations to his cannon arm that allows jaw-dropping throws that some of the all time greats could only dream of, Rodgers has it all. When he's on the field with the ball in his hands, it seems as if something magical will happen, and once the ball is snapped, it's almost expected that something that's never been seen before just might happen. He's the kind of player that you pay to see, even if you're not a Packers fan, and the kind of player that players on the other side of the field hate to face.
It's probably too soon to crown Rodgers as the greatest QB to ever grace the NFL. He's just 29, and has a few more years to go, hopefully. He could suffer a catastrophic injury, his team could take a drastic turn for the worse, or he could age poorly and lose it. If any of those things happen, he'll be remembered as great, but not the greatest. Regardless of what happens, this five year stretch by Rodgers is as good as anyone has ever seen. Still not a believer? Turn on a Packers game sometime this season and keep an eye on #12. Watch him take command of the offense as well as anybody ever has. Watch him make an impossible move at the last second and make something out of nothing. Watch him step up in the pocket and throw a laser-beam 60 yards downfield between two defenders for a "how did he do that?" TD. Just watch him. You might be watching the greatest QB in NFL history.
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