Aaron Rodgers is an American football quarterback for the New York Jets. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the first round of the 2005 NFL draft after playing college football for the California Golden Bears. Rodgers spent 18 seasons with the Packers and is widely regarded as one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history.
Rodgers became the first quarterback since Y. A. Tittle in 1962 to throw for at least 480 yards, four touchdowns, and no interceptions in a game.
In 1969, Daryle Lamonica became the first NFL player to throw six touchdown passes in the first half of a game.
Since yards per attempt became an official stat in 1970, Rodgers' 9.2 yards per attempt in 2011 ranked fourth-highest all-time.
From 1973 to 1976, Aaron Rodgers' father, Edward Rodgers, played offensive lineman for the Chico State Wildcats.
In 1976, Edward Rodgers' time as an offensive lineman for the Chico State Wildcats came to an end.
On December 2, 1983, Aaron Charles Rodgers was born in Chico, California.
In 1993, Brett Favre set a Packers franchise record with 36 completions in a game against the Chicago Bears.
In 1997, the Rodgers family returned to Chico, California.
Aaron Rodgers set a single-season school record with 2,466 total yards during his time at Pleasant Valley High School in 2001.
Aaron Rodgers graduated from Pleasant Valley High School in the spring of 2002.
Aaron Rodgers tied the school season record for 300-yard games with five and set a record for the lowest percentage of passes intercepted at 1.43% during the 2003 season.
In his fifth game as a junior college transfer for the California Golden Bears, Aaron Rodgers was named the starting quarterback in 2003.
In 2004, Rodgers led Cal to a 10-1 record and a top-five ranking. Their only loss was against USC, during which Rodgers set a school record for consecutive completed passes with 26.
In August 2005, Rodgers agreed to a five-year, $7.7 million deal with the Green Bay Packers.
On December 19, 2005, Rodgers played in a game against the Baltimore Ravens, completing eight of 15 passes for 65 yards and an interception.
In 2005, Rodgers impressed NFL scouts with his performance as a junior at Cal, particularly his 67.5 completion rate and 24 touchdowns with only 8 interceptions.
In 2005, Aaron Rodgers was selected in the first round of the NFL draft by the Green Bay Packers.
After Cal lost the Holiday Bowl to Texas Tech, Rodgers decided to skip his senior season and enter the 2005 NFL draft.
On November 19, 2006, while filling in for an injured Favre, Rodgers broke his left foot playing against the New England Patriots in a 35-0 loss. This injury sidelined him for the rest of the 2006 season.
On November 29, 2007, Rodgers replaced an injured Favre in the second quarter against the Dallas Cowboys. He threw his first NFL touchdown pass in this game, despite the Packers' 37-27 loss.
The 2007 Patriots held the record for most points scored in an NFL season.
When Favre announced his retirement on March 4, 2008, the path was cleared for Rodgers to become the Packers' starting quarterback. Though Favre later attempted to return, he was traded to the New York Jets, solidifying Rodgers' position.
Rodgers secured his future with the Packers on October 31, 2008, by signing a six-year contract extension worth $65 million, keeping him with the team through the 2014 season.
In the 2022 season, Rodgers threw 12 interceptions, marking the highest number of interceptions he had thrown in a single season since 2008.
After serving as Brett Favre's backup for three seasons, Aaron Rodgers took over as the Packers' starting quarterback in 2008.
Rodgers' exceptional performance in 2008 marked the beginning of his consecutive MVP award wins, a feat he shares with Peyton Manning, who achieved this between 2008 and 2009.
Since becoming a starter in 2008, Rodgers has become known for his touchdown celebration, the "Championship Belt," a gesture that has become iconic among Green Bay fans.
In 2009, Rodgers continued his impressive streak by winning his second consecutive MVP award, making him one of the few players in NFL history to achieve this.
In 2009, the Packers scored 55 points against the Tennessee Titans, marking the most points scored by a Rodgers-led offense.
In 2010, Pete Carroll became the head coach of the Seattle Seahawks.
In 2010, Aaron Rodgers led the Green Bay Packers to victory in Super Bowl XLV and was named Super Bowl MVP.
Rodgers led the Packers to victory in the NFC Championship game on January 23, 2011, with a decisive 21-14 win over the Chicago Bears. His impressive performance, including a 55.4 passer rating, helped secure the team's place in Super Bowl XLV.
Aaron Rodgers earned the Associated Press Athlete of the Year award and was voted the NFL's Most Valuable Player in 2011.
Rodgers achieved a record-setting 122.5 passer rating in 2011, the highest single-season passer rating in NFL history as of 2020. He led the league in multiple categories, including touchdown to interception ratio and touchdowns passing %, while setting franchise records for passing yards, touchdown passes, and passer rating.
Rodgers' exceptional 2011 season earned him the NFL MVP award, receiving 48 out of 50 votes. His performance was widely recognized, being ranked as the third-greatest passing season of all time by ESPN in 2013.
The Packers, despite their 15-1 record, were upset by the Giants in the Divisional Round of the playoffs. However, Rodgers received recognition for his performance in 2011, being named to the Pro Bowl and earning First-team All-Pro honors.
In 2011, Rodgers had several outstanding games, including a 49-23 win over Denver with 408 passing yards, four touchdowns, and two rushing touchdowns. He also set a career-high with a 93-yard touchdown pass to Jordy Nelson in a win over St. Louis. The Packers' winning streak reached 19 games before being snapped by the Chiefs.
In 2011 against the Denver Broncos, Aaron Rodgers matched his own feat of achieving at least 400 passing yards, two passing touchdowns, and two rushing touchdowns in a single game.
During a 2011 interview on E:60, Aaron Rodgers spoke about his college recruitment process and the lack of attention he received.
Despite the 2011 NFL lockout causing the Packers and Rodgers to skip unofficial off-season workouts, they defeated the Saints 42-34 in the season opener. Rodgers threw for 312 yards and three touchdowns, earning NFC Offensive Player of the Week.
On January 5, 2012, Rodgers was initiated as an honorary member of the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity at St. Norbert College.
Rodgers led the Packers to a Wild Card Round victory over the Vikings in the 2012 playoffs but lost to the 49ers in the Divisional Round. He earned his third career Pro Bowl nomination for his performance during the season.
Rodgers lost a bet with Boyz II Men after the Packers' opening game loss to the 49ers in 2012. As a result, he had to wear an Alex Smith jersey during the following week of practice.
Rodgers was voted by fellow players as the best player in the league on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2012.
On April 26, 2013, Rodgers signed a 5-year, $110 million contract extension with the Packers, making him the highest-paid player in NFL history at the time.
Rodgers was ranked sixth by his peers on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2013.
The 2013 Broncos had one of the highest-scoring seasons in NFL history.
In 2013, Aaron Rodgers reportedly shared conspiracy theories regarding the Sandy Hook massacre, alleging it was an "inside job" perpetrated by the government. An anonymous source also claimed Rodgers denied the existence of the children, calling them actors. This information came to light in 2024 through a CNN report by Pamela Brown.
Rodgers returned from injury in Week 17 of the 2013 season to lead the Packers to a dramatic victory over the Bears, securing the NFC North title. His game-winning 48-yard touchdown pass to Randall Cobb earned him the GMC Never Say Never Award.
Rodgers made a cameo appearance in a 2013 episode of The Office.
ESPN ranked Rodgers' 2011 season as the third-greatest passing season in NFL history in 2013.
Aaron Rodgers was voted the NFL's Most Valuable Player for the second time in 2014.
From 2014 to 2017, Rodgers was in a relationship with actress Olivia Munn.
In 2014, Rodgers led the Packers to the playoffs with an 8-7-1 record, where they faced the 49ers in the Wild Card Round. The Packers lost to the 49ers for the fourth consecutive time, 23-20, on a last-second field goal at Lambeau Field. Rodgers had a disappointing performance, recording only 177 passing yards, his lowest in a playoff game, and one touchdown pass.
In Week 17 of 2014, Rodgers re-injured his left calf during a game against the Lions but returned to lead the Packers to a 30-20 victory, securing their fourth straight NFC North title. Despite limited mobility due to the injury, Rodgers showcased his resilience and determination, earning his fourth NFC Offensive Player of the Week honor for the season.
Rodgers had an exceptional 2014 season, earning the AP NFL Most Valuable Player award, NFC Offensive Player of the Year, FedEx Air NFL Player of the Year, and a spot on the AP All-Pro team as the first quarterback.
The Packers had a mixed start to the 2014 season, losing to the defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks in Week 1 but achieving a comeback victory against the Jets in Week 2. However, they suffered a shutout loss to the Lions in Week 3, resulting in Rodgers' lowest passing yards in a game. Despite the slow start, Rodgers remained confident and famously told fans and media to "R-E-L-A-X."
Rodgers appeared as a contestant on Celebrity Jeopardy! in May 2015, where he emerged victorious against Shark Tank investor Kevin O'Leary and astronaut and future United States Senator Mark Kelly. His win secured $50,000 for his chosen charity.
On December 3, 2015, Rodgers executed a stunning game-winning play known as "The Miracle in Motown." He threw a Hail Mary pass to Richard Rodgers II for a 61-yard touchdown with no time remaining, securing a 27-23 victory against the Detroit Lions. The game had been extended due to a facemask penalty on Detroit.
Rodgers' struggles from the 2015 season extended into the early part of the 2016 season.
Rodgers appeared in a 2015 episode of the sketch comedy television series Key & Peele.
Rodgers recorded his first 300-yard passing game since Week 10 of the 2015 season.
In 2015, Rodgers was ranked as the second-best player in the league by his peers on the NFL Top 100 Players list.
In 2015, Rodgers experienced a statistical decline compared to his previous seasons, throwing for a career-low 3,821 yards with a completion percentage of 60.7, a passer rating of 92.7, and 6.7 yards per attempt, all career lows. The absence of Pro Bowl wide receiver Jordy Nelson due to injury was considered a significant factor in Rodgers' performance dip.
On December 20, 2016, Rodgers was selected to his third consecutive Pro Bowl and sixth overall in his career.
As of 2016, the Packers' 560 points scored in the 2011 season ranked as the third-highest in NFL history, only behind the 2007 Patriots and 2013 Broncos.
In 2016, Aaron Rodgers achieved career highs in completions (401) and attempts (610), while also leading the league with 40 touchdown passes for the first time in his career.
In 2016, Rodgers led the Packers to an NFC North title and a playoff appearance. They defeated the Giants in the Wild Card Round and the top-seeded Dallas Cowboys in the Divisional Round with a game-winning field goal as time expired. However, they lost to the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC Championship game.
Rodgers' struggles from the 2015 season carried over into the first five games of 2016, with similar statistics and several fumbles. His subpar performance led to speculation about the underlying causes of his difficulties.
The Packers secured a playoff spot as the fifth seed in the NFC with a 10-6 record in 2016. They won the Wild Card Round against the Redskins but lost to the Arizona Cardinals in the Divisional Round despite Rodgers throwing another Hail Mary touchdown pass as time expired to force overtime. He was selected to his fifth Pro Bowl and was ranked as the sixth-best player by his peers on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2016.
On December 2, 2017, Aaron Rodgers returned to practice following an injury, making him eligible to play in Week 15.
On December 12, 2017, it was announced that Aaron Rodgers had been medically cleared to play and was set to start the next game against the Carolina Panthers.
Aaron Rodgers was officially activated on December 16, 2017, marking his return to the active roster.
Rodgers, who was raised Christian, revealed in a 2017 interview that he no longer identified with any organized religion.
In 2017, Rodgers' relationship with actress Olivia Munn came to an end.
Aaron Rodgers was ranked sixth by his peers on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2017.
In 2017, Rodgers had a game where he threw three interceptions, a feat he hadn't repeated until a specific game in the 2022 season.
In April 2018, Rodgers became a limited partner in the Milwaukee Bucks ownership group, marking him as the first active NFL player to hold an ownership stake in an NBA franchise.
On August 29, 2018, Aaron Rodgers signed a four-year contract extension with the Green Bay Packers worth $134 million, including a $57.5 million signing bonus.
On December 18, 2018, Aaron Rodgers was named to his seventh Pro Bowl but declined the appearance due to an injury and was replaced by Russell Wilson.
Aaron Rodgers was ranked No. 10 by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2018.
Rodgers began dating former professional racing driver Danica Patrick in 2018.
Aaron Rodgers began the 2019 season with a new head coach, Matt LaFleur, following the departure of Mike McCarthy.
In 2019, Aaron Rodgers set NFL records for interception percentage for a season and for the amount of thrown-away passes. He was ranked eighth by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2019.
In 2019, Rodgers made a cameo appearance in an episode of Game of Thrones.
In 2019, during Week 7 against the Raiders, Aaron Rodgers achieved his first-ever perfect passer rating of 158.3, becoming the first quarterback in team history to do so.
On December 21, 2020, Aaron Rodgers was selected for the 2021 Pro Bowl.
In 2020, Aaron Rodgers received his third NFL MVP award.
In the 2020 NFC Championship Game against the San Francisco 49ers, Aaron Rodgers and the Packers lost 37-20, marking Rodgers' third consecutive NFC Championship loss. He was ranked 16th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2020.
As of 2020, Rodgers' 2011 season continued to hold the record for the highest single-season passer rating in NFL history.
In 2020, Rodgers' relationship with Danica Patrick ended. Later that year, he started dating actress Shailene Woodley.
On January 8, 2021, Aaron Rodgers made the 2020 All-Pro Team first-team.
From April 5 to 16, 2021, Rodgers took on the role of guest host for Jeopardy!.
On December 23, 2021, Rodgers was selected for his tenth Pro Bowl. This followed a period where he was activated off the COVID-19 list and helped the Packers secure a victory against the Seahawks. His performance in a win against the Ravens, where he threw for 268 yards and three touchdowns, earned him NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors and clinched the NFC North title for the Packers for the third consecutive season.
During Rodgers' 2021 stint as Jeopardy! guest host, the show made a charitable donation matching the total winnings of contestants, including runners-up, across those ten shows.
During the 2021 season, Rodgers achieved a significant milestone by throwing his 443rd career touchdown pass in a victory against the Browns, surpassing Brett Favre for the most all-time career touchdown passes in Packers history. His exceptional performance throughout December earned him the title of NFC Offensive Player of the Month. He ended the 2021 season with remarkable stats: 4,115 passing yards, 37 touchdowns, and only four interceptions.
In 2021, Rodgers donated $1 million to support small businesses in Chico and Butte County, California.
In 2021, Rodgers made headlines for making false and misleading statements about COVID-19 on The Pat McAfee Show, leading to criticism and comparisons to conspiracy theorists.
In 2021, Rodgers' alma mater, University of California, Berkeley, recognized him for his charitable contributions, which include donations for athletic facility renovations and an endowed scholarship for transfer students.
Rodgers participated in The Match IV in 2021, teaming up with professional golfer Bryson DeChambeau. They won against Phil Mickelson and Tom Brady. Rodgers also took part in The Match VI, where he and Tom Brady beat fellow quarterbacks Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes.
After the 2021 season, Aaron Rodgers won the AP Most Valuable Player Award as well as the FedEx Air Player of the Year. He was ranked third by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2021.
Aaron Rodgers was voted the NFL's Most Valuable Player for the fourth time in 2021.
Aaron Rodgers had a difficult start to the 2021 season, experiencing a significant loss against the Saints. He was even substituted for Jordan Love due to the slim chances of a comeback.
During a 2021 appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Shailene Woodley confirmed her engagement to Aaron Rodgers.
On January 14, 2022, Rodgers earned his fourth career First-team All-Pro selection.
Rodgers and Shailene Woodley ended their engagement on February 16, 2022, after confirming their engagement a year prior on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
Rodgers faced numerous challenges in the 2022 season, including a broken thumb sustained during Week 5. Despite a difficult start to the season with losses against the Vikings, Bills, and Lions, Rodgers and the Packers rallied to achieve four consecutive wins. The season ultimately ended with a missed postseason following a loss to the Lions in a crucial Week 18 game. Rodgers' performance throughout the season was marked by both highs and lows, with a season total of 3,695 passing yards, 26 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions - the highest number of interceptions he had thrown in a single season since 2008. His performance placed him at 51st on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2023, as ranked by his peers.
In 2022, Rodgers openly discussed his use of alternative medicine and his support for the legalization of psychedelic drugs, revealing his experiences with ayahuasca during offseason trips to Peru.
In 2022, former Packers backup quarterback DeShone Kizer revealed that Rodgers had expressed interest in 9/11 conspiracy theories, characterizing their discussions as "thought experiments." This revelation, along with Rodgers' promotion of the Tartarian architecture conspiracy theory, further contributes to the perception of him as someone open to fringe beliefs.
Despite a Divisional Round loss to the 49ers, where Rodgers threw for 225 yards but was hindered by a poor special teams performance, he went on to win the AP NFL Most Valuable Player Award for the second consecutive season, marking his fourth overall MVP award. This achievement put him in the elite company of players like Peyton Manning, who had also won at least four MVPs. He was ranked third by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2022.
After much speculation about his future, Rodgers confirmed on March 8, 2022, that he would be returning to the Packers for the season. While there were rumors of a record-breaking contract extension, Rodgers denied these, confirming only his return for his 18th NFL season with the Packers.
On April 26, 2023, a significant trade saw Rodgers move from the Packers to the New York Jets, echoing the career trajectory of his predecessor Brett Favre. This move involved an exchange of draft picks, highlighting the value placed on Rodgers within the league.
On July 26, 2023, Rodgers agreed to a reworked contract with the New York Jets, which included a pay cut, demonstrating his commitment to the team.
In 2023, Rodgers was ranked 51st by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players list.
In January 2024, during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, Aaron Rodgers made unsubstantiated claims implying comedian Jimmy Kimmel's association with Jeffrey Epstein. Kimmel refuted the allegations and threatened legal action if Rodgers persisted. In a subsequent appearance, Rodgers clarified he didn't believe Kimmel was involved in pedophilia.
In February 2024, Rodgers appeared on the Look Into It podcast with Eddie Bravo. During the episode, Rodgers shared various conspiracy theories, including government-engineered AIDS and COVID-19 pandemics to boost pharmaceutical profits.
As part of the trade deal with the New York Jets, a conditional second-round selection in the 2024 NFL draft was included, adding further complexity and potential future implications to the agreement.
In 2024, CNN reporter Pamela Brown revealed that Rodgers had propagated false conspiracy theories in 2013, suggesting the Sandy Hook massacre was an "inside job." CNN also reported allegations that Rodgers had previously denied the existence of the children and claimed they were actors. Rodgers responded by affirming his belief that the events did occur but didn't address the "inside job" allegations.
Rodgers has publicly voiced his support for Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s presidential campaign in 2024, a decision that further aligns him with alternative viewpoints and potentially controversial figures.