Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay’s favorite quarterback, has long been debated as the greatest of all time. For a long time, he was regarded as a top ten all-time quarterback, but as the MVPs piled up, he was viewed as a legitimate candidate for greatest of all time.
Despite Rodgers winning four MVP honors, no Lombardi trophies came following that incredible Super Bowl run in 2010.
Given Tom Brady’s run it seems easy to chalk it up as no one being to beat the real GOAT. However, Patrick Mahomes’ new run has somewhat dispelled that notion. A lot of Rodgers criticisms have been tossed onto Mahomes, who in less time has already gotten 2 more trophies than Rodgers. Does that mean Aaron can still be considered the GOAT?
Is Aaron Rodgers The GOAT? A Case For Why He Is
There are several reasons why, to this day, Aaron is a GOAT contender.
First and foremost, Aaron Rodgers is one of the most talented QBs to ever touch the gridiron. His arm strength and accuracy are arguably unparalleled, even by other greats such as Dan Marino and Brett Favre. Mahomes, as insanely talented as he is, doesn’t have the touch on medium passes that Rodgers has had.
Then there are the statistics to support the eye test. Aaron ranks fifth all-time in touchdowns and ninth all-time in passing yards. He’s also tied for ninth all-time in playoff victories, so the criticism of his postseason performances may be dismissed.
The four MVPs cannot be overlooked either. For whatever reason, getting an impressive award multiple times isn’t enough for some folks. The only other quarterback to win that many is Peyton Manning, who has five.
Is Aaron Rodgers the greatest of all-time? An Argument for Why He Isn’t
The fight for GOAT title is fierce in all sports, not just the NFL. Tom Brady must compete with Deion Sanders, Lawrence Taylor, and many others.
When it comes to quarterbacks, Dan Marino and Steve Young are never mentioned. To say there is intense competition is an understatement. Rodgers must beat out quarterbacks like Favre and Elway, who are idolized (at least for their on-field contributions).
Then there are the rings. Rodgers definitely passes the eye test and award count. But if he’s so good, how come he only has one ring? Despite the fact that football is a team sport, quarterbacks appear to be assessed almost entirely on this statistic. Rodgers, unfortunately, has the reputation of being a postseason choker at this point.
Call it unfair but the 3 names you hear the most in the GOAT conversation are Brady, Montana, and Mahomes. Even Manning who, like Rodgers, is arguably the most dominant regular season QB ever, isn’t in the Convo because of his postseason performance.
Finally, Aaron’s credibility and public opinion have suffered as a result of the events of recent years. The off-the-field troubles, not the quarterback requirements, are what damaged him. Playing mind games with the Packers’ front staff and lying about being vaccinated have tarnished Aaron’s reputation among not only NFL fans, but also many Packers fans. Certain teammates have spoken out against him. Can the greatest of all time be so controversial, even if what he’s doing isn’t particularly harmful or dangerous to others?
It’s about the rings. It’s really unfair in several ways, considering Terry Bradshaw has four and Trent Dilfer has one. They’re not awful quarterbacks by any means, particularly Bradshaw, but the point is that it’s a team sport in which one man receives all of the credit.
If Rodgers succeeds with the Jets, he may finally receive the recognition and discussion he so rightfully deserves. But the reason he was in the GOAT discussion a few years ago was because he had the chance to win it with the Packers’ high seedings, which he did not.
