Aaron Rodgers and Brett Favre had a contentious relationship during their time together in Green Bay. That comes with the territory when you’re competing for the same job. When Favre finally left in 2008, Rodgers vowed he’d never be anything like him. He would be a better player and a better teammate. His career would become the envy of all. For a time, he was a right. Rodgers was the most accurate passer in NFL history and carried the Packers back to the mountaintop in 2010. However, as the next decade unfolded, some eerie parallels emerged.
Rodgers looked more and more like Favre in his accomplishments and failures. People thought it was merely a coincidence. Then things got weird during the final game of this season. In what felt like the final chapter of his Packers career, Rodgers cemented his ties to his predecessor with this gem.
Favre’s final six passes in Green Bay:
- 2-for-6
- 12 yards
- Game-sealing INT on the final pass
Rodgers’ final six passes of 2022:
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- 2-for-6
- 12 yards
- Game-sealing INT on the final pass
It gets even better. According to weather reports, the wind at Lambeau Field was blowing 12 mph when Favre threw his interception. It was blowing four mph when Rodgers threw his. The connections between the two only get creepier. Both quarterbacks won the Super Bowl in their sixth seasons at 27 years old. Both failed to win a second one after that. Last but certainly not least, both endlessly flirted with retirement as their star power began to fade. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Aaron Rodgers could follow the Favre legacy even further.
Early rumblings suggest Green Bay might decide it’s time to trade the 39-year-old. They have a former 1st round pick waiting in the wings in Jordan Love. They have to know if they have something there before his rookie contract expires. The team mentioned first among possible destinations? The New York Jets. That would be so poetic, considering the Packers traded Favre to the Jets in 2008 after making the decision to go with Rodgers. It would be the perfect bookend to maybe the most underachieving run a first-ballot Hall of Fame quarterback has ever had aside from Dan Marino.
The truth is Aaron Rodgers has nobody to blame but himself. He’s had countless opportunities to escape the Favre shadow and repeatedly squandered them. His 5-4 record at Lambeau Field since 2011 can’t be understated. In the last two win-or-go-home games he’s played, he had one touchdown and one interception. Those aren’t the numbers expected of an all-time great. After watching him torture the Bears for so many years, it is beyond satisfying to see his legacy become more and more tarnished.
Bears fans are jealous. Aaron Rodgers and Brett Favre both have super bowls and multiple mvps. The teams they were on lacked much defense. But they were always competitive and exciting. Let’s face it bears have not had an mvp qb since Sid luckman. Whoever wrote this article is a chump and loser clown.
@scott brs I agree about the former players part. I hope they do well on their new teams. But I disagree about the Packers and Rodgers trash talk being petty. It’s a rivalry I and I’m guessing most Bears fans will trash talk anytime and for any reason. Doesn’t matter if they’ve won most games in the last few decades. Things change quickly. F#ck the Packers.
Erik:
Please learn the difference between understated and overstated. You use the wrong one almost every day.
I agree with everything Jim B and Jason said. There are way too many articles on here about former players being bums and Packer quarterbacks. Quinn has a chance to get a ring, good for him. Smith made the Pro Bowl and got paid, good for him. Rodgers has that sh**ty smile on his face every time he plays us because, well he usually beats the crap out of us. Trying to talk smack doesn’t make sense and is petty imo.
Why would a fan not want stories about their hated rival? And why do you read them and then say why do you write them? Why did you read them?