Career Timeline of Aaron Rodgers: Major Achievements and Milestones

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Aaron Rodgers made an impact.

Aaron Rodgers is a professional American football quarterback currently playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He previously played college football at the University of California, where he set school records for interception rates. Drafted by the Green Bay Packers in 2005, Rodgers is widely considered one of the greatest and most talented quarterbacks in NFL history.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles

1962: Most Passing Yards

In 2013, Aaron Rodgers had a career-high 480 passing yards, becoming the first quarterback since Y. A. Tittle in 1962 to throw for at least 480 yards, four touchdowns, and no interceptions in a game.

1969: Six Touchdown Passes

In week 10 of 2014, Aaron Rodgers became the second player in NFL history since Daryle Lamonica in 1969, to throw six touchdown passes in the first half of a game.

1970: Yards per Attempt

In 2011, Aaron Rodgers had 9.2 yards per attempt, which was the fourth-highest all-time since it became an official stat in 1970

2003: Starting Quarterback at Cal

In 2003, Aaron Rodgers was named the starting quarterback for the California Golden Bears in the fifth game of the season.

2004: Led Cal to a 10-1 Record

In 2004, Aaron Rodgers led Cal to a 10–1 record and top-five ranking at the end of the regular season, showcasing his leadership and quarterback skills.

August 2005: Signed with the Packers

In August 2005, Aaron Rodgers agreed to a five-year, $7.7 million deal with the Green Bay Packers, including $5.4 million in guaranteed money.

2005: Expected Early Selection in NFL Draft

In 2005, Aaron Rodgers was expected to be selected early in the NFL draft due to his impressive numbers as a junior with Cal.

2005: Drafted by the Green Bay Packers

In 2005, Aaron Rodgers was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the first round of the NFL draft after a successful college football career with the California Golden Bears.

2005: NFL Draft Evaluation

In 2005, before the NFL draft, scouts noted Aaron Rodgers as a "talented strong-armed junior" who "combines arm strength, mechanics and delivery to make all the throws".

2007: Stayed with the Packers for the Season

In 2007, Favre decided to stay with the Packers, and rumors surfaced about a potential trade involving Rodgers, but he stayed in Green Bay for the season.

2007: Third-Most Points Scored

In 2011, the Packers' offense set a franchise record for points scored in a season with 560, which as of 2016, is the third-most ever behind only the 2007 Patriots and 2013 Broncos.

March 4, 2008: Favre's Retirement Announcement

On March 4, 2008, Brett Favre's retirement announcement opened up the Packers' starting quarterback position to Aaron Rodgers for the 2008 season.

October 31, 2008: Contract Extension

On October 31, 2008, Aaron Rodgers signed a six-year, $65 million contract extension with the Green Bay Packers through the 2014 season.

2008: Became Packers' Starting Quarterback

In 2008, Aaron Rodgers became the starting quarterback for the Green Bay Packers, succeeding Brett Favre after serving as his backup for three years.

2009: Highest point scored

In week 10 of 2014, the 55–14 victory tied the Packers' 55–7 win vs. the Titans in 2009 for the most points scored by a Rodgers-led offense.

2010: Led Packers to Playoffs

In 2010, Aaron Rodgers helped the Packers win their final two regular-season games to qualify for the playoffs, including a game against the New York Giants where he passed for 404 yards and four touchdowns, earning him his second NFC Offensive Player of the Week honor of the season.

2010: Super Bowl XLV Victory

In the 2010 season, Aaron Rodgers led the Packers to victory in Super Bowl XLV and was named the Super Bowl MVP.

January 23, 2011: NFC Championship Win

On January 23, 2011, Aaron Rodgers led the Packers to a 21–14 victory over the Chicago Bears in the NFC Championship, despite a 55.4 passer rating.

2011: Single Game Feat

Against the Denver Broncos in 2011, Rodgers accomplished at least 400 passing yards, two passing touchdowns, and two rushing touchdowns in a single game. In Week 16 against the Jets, Rodgers matched his own feat, the only other time it occurred in NFL history.

2011: Playoff Performance

In 2011, Aaron Rodgers became only the third player in NFL history to pass for over 1,000 yards in a single postseason, finishing with 1,094 passing yards, nine touchdown passes, two rushing touchdowns, and two interceptions, while completing 68.2% of his passes for a passer rating of 109.8.

2011: Multiple NFC Offensive Player of the Week Honors

In 2011, Aaron Rodgers earned multiple NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors, including after a Week 4 victory over the Denver Broncos where he had 408 passing yards, four touchdowns, and two rushing touchdowns, and after a Week 9 victory over the Chargers where he had 247 passing yards and four touchdowns. Also, in Week 6, during a victory over the St. Louis Rams, Rodgers converted on a career-high 93-yard touchdown pass to Jordy Nelson.

2011: Record-Breaking Season

In 2011, Aaron Rodgers finished the season with a league-leading passer rating of 122.5, the highest single-season passer rating in NFL history as of 2024. He also earned multiple NFC Offensive Player of the Month awards and FedEx Air Player of the Week awards, setting single-season franchise records for passing yards, touchdown passes, and passer rating.

2011: Victory Over the Saints

In 2011, despite the NFL lockout disrupting off-season workouts, Aaron Rodgers led the Packers to a 42–34 victory over the Saints, throwing for 312 yards and three touchdowns, earning him the NFC Offensive Player of the Week.

2011: Pro Bowl and All-Pro Honors

In 2011, despite the Packers being upset in the Divisional Round, Aaron Rodgers was named to the Pro Bowl and received First-team All-Pro honors for his outstanding season.

2012: Ranked #1 by Peers

In 2011, Aaron Rodgers was voted by his fellow players as the best player in the league on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2012.

2012: Pro Bowl Nomination

In 2012, Aaron Rodgers completed 23 of 33 passes to ten different players for 274 yards and a touchdown in the Wild Card Round. Rodgers earned his third career Pro Bowl nomination for his performance in the 2012 season.

April 26, 2013: Contract Extension

On April 26, 2013, Aaron Rodgers and the Packers agreed to a 5-year, $110 million contract extension, making him the highest-paid player in NFL history at the time.

2013: Greatest Passing Season

In 2011, Aaron Rodgers' season was later ranked as one of the greatest passing seasons of all time by ESPN in 2013.

2013: Third-Most Points Scored

In 2011, the Packers' offense set a franchise record for points scored in a season with 560, which as of 2016, is the third-most ever behind only the 2007 Patriots and 2013 Broncos.

2013: Ranked Sixth by Peers

In 2012, Aaron Rodgers was ranked sixth by his peers on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2013.

2013: Career-High Passing Yards

In 2013, Aaron Rodgers had a career-high 480 passing yards in a win against the Washington Redskins, earning him NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors. His 335 passing yards in the first half set a club record.

2013: Cameo on The Office

In 2013, Aaron Rodgers made a cameo appearance on an episode of The Office.

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2013: Game-Winning Touchdown Pass

In 2013, after returning from injury, Aaron Rodgers threw for 318 yards and two touchdowns in the regular season finale against the Bears, including a 48-yard game-winning touchdown pass to Randall Cobb to clinch the NFC North championship. Rodgers won the 2013 GMC Never Say Never Award for the come-from-behind touchdown.

2014: Wild Card Round Loss

In 2014, Aaron Rodgers led the Packers to the playoffs, where they lost to the 49ers 23–20 in the Wild Card Round. Rodgers recorded only 177 yards passing, his lowest in a playoff game, and one touchdown pass.

2014: AP NFL Most Valuable Player

In 2014, Aaron Rodgers was voted the AP NFL Most Valuable Player, receiving 31 votes. He was also named NFC Offensive Player of the Year and Fed-Ex Air NFL Player of the Year. Additionally, he was named to the AP All-Pro team and the Pro Bowl for the 2014 season.

2014: Re-injured Calf vs. Lions

In 2014, during the Week 17 game against the Lions, Aaron Rodgers re-injured his left calf while throwing a touchdown pass. Despite the injury, he returned to the game, leading the Packers to a 30-20 victory and their fourth straight NFC North title. He earned his fourth NFC Offensive Player of the Week honor for the 2014 season.

2014: Contract Extension

On October 31, 2008, Aaron Rodgers signed a six-year, $65 million contract extension with the Green Bay Packers through the 2014 season.

May 2015: Celebrity Jeopardy! Appearance and Win

In May 2015, Aaron Rodgers appeared as a contestant on Celebrity Jeopardy! He defeated Kevin O'Leary and Mark Kelly, winning $50,000 for his charity.

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December 3, 2015: "The Miracle in Motown"

On December 3, 2015, Aaron Rodgers threw a 61-yard Hail Mary pass caught by Richard Rodgers with no time left to beat the Lions 27–23. The play was quickly dubbed "The Miracle in Motown."

2015: First 300-yard passing game

During a Week 7 game in 2015 against the Bears, Rodgers recorded a franchise record and career-high 39 completions for 326 passing yards. This was his first 300-yard passing game since Week 10 of that season.

2015: Statistical Drop

In 2015, Aaron Rodgers experienced a statistical drop, throwing for a career-low 3,821 yards despite playing at least 15 games. His completion percentage, yards per attempt, and passer rating were also career lows. The absence of Jordy Nelson was considered a contributing factor.

2015: Cameo on Key & Peele

In 2015, Aaron Rodgers made a cameo appearance on an episode of the sketch comedy television series Key & Peele.

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2015: Ranked Second Best Player

In 2015, Aaron Rodgers was ranked as the second best player in the league among his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players list.

December 20, 2016: Selected to Pro Bowl

On December 20, 2016, Aaron Rodgers was selected to his third consecutive Pro Bowl and his sixth overall in his career.

2016: Third-Most Points Scored

In 2011, the Packers' offense set a franchise record for points scored in a season with 560, which as of 2016, is the third-most ever behind only the 2007 Patriots and 2013 Broncos.

2016: Statistical Achievements

In 2016, Aaron Rodgers finished with career highs in completions and attempts, with 401 and 610, respectively. He also had 4,428 passing yards, 40 touchdown passes, a 104.2 passer rating, 369 rushing yards, and four rushing touchdowns. He led the league in touchdown passes and finished fourth in passing yards, completions, attempts, and passer rating.

2016: Playoff Berth and Loss in NFC Championship

In 2016, Aaron Rodgers helped lead the Packers to a NFC North title and a playoff berth. They defeated the Giants and the Cowboys in the Wild Card and Divisional Rounds, respectively. However, the Packers lost to the Falcons in the NFC Championship. Rodgers completed 27 of his 45 passing attempts for 287 yards with three touchdowns and an interception in the losing effort.

2016: Playoff Run

In 2016, Aaron Rodgers led the Packers to the playoffs as the fifth seed in the NFC with a 10–6 record. They defeated the Redskins in the Wild Card Round but lost to the Cardinals in overtime in the Divisional Round despite a Hail Mary touchdown pass. Rodgers was named to his fifth Pro Bowl and ranked as the sixth-best player by his peers on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2016.

2017: NFL Top 100 Ranking

In 2017, Aaron Rodgers was ranked sixth by his peers on the NFL Top 100 Players list.

April 2018: Limited Partner in Milwaukee Bucks

In April 2018, Aaron Rodgers was announced as a limited partner in the Milwaukee Bucks ownership group, making him the first active NFL player with an ownership stake in an NBA franchise.

August 29, 2018: Signs Four-Year Extension with Packers

On August 29, 2018, Aaron Rodgers signed a four-year extension with the Packers worth $134 million featuring a $57.5 million signing bonus, securing his future with the team.

December 18, 2018: Named to Pro Bowl

On December 18, 2018, Aaron Rodgers was named to his seventh Pro Bowl but declined the appearance due to injury, and was replaced by Russell Wilson.

2018: Placed Back on Injured Reserve

In 2018, after returning from injury and playing in Week 15 against the Panthers, Aaron Rodgers was placed back on injured reserve on December 19 after the Packers were eliminated from playoff contention. He was ranked No. 10 by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2018.

2019: Season Highlights

During the 2019 season, Aaron Rodgers led the Packers to a 3-0 start and later posted his first-ever game with a perfect passer rating of 158.3 against the Raiders. He finished the season with 4,002 passing yards, 26 passing touchdowns, and four interceptions, helping the Packers secure a first-round bye in the playoffs.

2019: Statistical Achievements and Top 100 Ranking

In 2019, Aaron Rodgers finished with 4,442 passing yards, 25 passing touchdowns, and two interceptions. His touchdown to interception ratio ranked third-best all-time. He also set NFL records for interception percentage and thrown away passes. He was ranked eighth by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2019.

2019: Cameo on Game of Thrones

In 2019, Aaron Rodgers made a cameo appearance on an episode of Game of Thrones.

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2019: New Head Coach

In the 2019 season, Aaron Rodgers began working with a new head coach, Matt LaFleur, following the departure of Mike McCarthy. The Packers' offense shifted its focus, relying less on Rodgers' traditional passes and more on formations to leverage running back Aaron Jones.

December 21, 2020: Selected for 2021 Pro Bowl

On December 21, 2020, Aaron Rodgers was selected for the 2021 Pro Bowl and was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Month for December after passing for 15 touchdowns and one interception in five victories for the Packers.

2020: Playoff Loss

In 2020, Aaron Rodgers and the Packers won against the Seahawks in the Divisional Round of the playoffs but lost to the 49ers in the NFC Championship Game. The loss marked Rodgers' third consecutive NFC Championship loss. He was ranked 16th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2020.

January 8, 2021: Named NFL MVP

On January 8, 2021, Aaron Rodgers made the 2020 All-Pro Team first-team and was named the NFL MVP by the Pro Football Writers of America.

April 2021: Jeopardy! Guest Host Stint

In April 2021, Aaron Rodgers had a two-week stint as a guest host on Jeopardy! from April 5–16.

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December 23, 2021: Named to Tenth Pro Bowl

On December 23, 2021, Aaron Rodgers was named to his tenth Pro Bowl.

2021: Rodgers' 2021 Season

Aaron Rodgers finished the 2021 season with 4,115 passing yards, 37 touchdowns, and four interceptions.

2021: Charitable Donations from Jeopardy! Appearance

During Aaron Rodgers' 2021 appearance as Jeopardy! guest host, the show made a charitable donation equal to the cumulative winnings of the contestants for those ten shows.

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2021: $1 Million Donation to Small Businesses

In 2021, Aaron Rodgers donated $1 million to help small businesses in Chico and Butte County, California.

2021: Honored for Charitable Work by UC Berkeley

In 2021, Aaron Rodgers was honored by the University of California, Berkeley, for his charitable work. He supports the school by donating funds to renovate athletic facilities and establishing an endowed scholarship for transfer students.

2021: AP Most Valuable Player Award and FedEx Air Player of the Year

In 2021, Aaron Rodgers won the AP Most Valuable Player Award and the FedEx Air Player of the Year. The Packers finished with a 13–3 record, won the NFC North, and earned a first-round bye for the NFC playoffs.

January 14, 2022: Earned Fourth Career First-team All-Pro Selection

On January 14, 2022, Aaron Rodgers earned his fourth career First-team All-Pro selection.

2022: 2022 Season Performance

Aaron Rodgers finished the 2022 season with 3,695 passing yards, 26 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions.

2022: AP NFL Most Valuable Player Award

In 2022, Aaron Rodgers won the AP NFL Most Valuable Player Award for the second consecutive season and the fourth time overall.

2022: Return to the Packers

On March 8, 2022, Aaron Rodgers confirmed that he would return and play for the Packers for the 2022 season.

April 26, 2023: Traded to the Jets

On April 26, 2023, Aaron Rodgers was traded to the Jets, along with the Packers' first and fifth-round selections in the 2023 NFL draft, in exchange for the Jets' first, second (via Cleveland) and sixth-round selections in the 2023 draft and a conditional second-round selection in the 2024 NFL draft.

July 26, 2023: Rodgers Takes Pay Cut

On July 26, 2023, Aaron Rodgers took a pay cut and agreed to a reworked contract with the Jets.

2023: Most Interceptions Thrown in a Season

As of the 2023 season, Aaron Rodgers passed for 4,038 yards in his first season as a starter. It stands as the most interceptions he has thrown in a season.

2023: Traded to the New York Jets

In 2023, Aaron Rodgers was traded to the New York Jets, marking a new chapter in his NFL career.

2024: 2024 Season

Aaron Rodgers finished the 2024 season with 3,897 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions.

2024: Released by the Jets and Signed with the Steelers

After spending two seasons with the New York Jets, Aaron Rodgers was released after the 2024 season and signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

2024: NFL Top 100 Players of 2024

Despite missing most of the season, Aaron Rodgers was ranked 92nd by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2024.

2024: Highest single-season passer rating

In 2011, Aaron Rodgers passer rating of 122.5 remains as of 2024, the highest single-season passer rating in NFL history.

2024: $3 Million Raised for Charities

In 2024, Aaron Rodgers raised $3 million for charities with a flag football tournament.

January 5, 2025: 500th Touchdown Pass

On January 5, 2025, Aaron Rodgers completed his 500th touchdown pass to Tyler Conklin against the Dolphins, becoming the fifth quarterback in NFL history with 500 touchdown passes.