Aaron Rodgers: Greatest QB in Packers history
By Zach Roethlisberger
When discussing where a quarterback should rank all-time, I look at it from two different angles.
I look at the player’s ability, combined with the legacy he left on the league and a franchise.
Simply how much ability did that quarterback possess combined with his leadership, while what was he able to accomplish during his career?
As part of our three-part series I was given the task of arguing for as the greatest quarterback in Green Bay Packers franchise history, but with my own criteria above, I’ve never thought of Rodgers as the greatest quarterback in franchise history, at least not yet.
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From a legacy standpoint, he has work to do to surpass names like and for that accolade, and even when you combine leadership with what he’s accomplished and his talent, I still feel Rodgers falls a bit short.
Favre helped revitalize the franchise when he was traded to Green Bay in 1992, while Starr was a field-general who led the historic Vince Lombardi dynasty to multiple championships.
So there are two ways of looking at this, I will agree that is not the greatest Packers quarterback of all time, but he is the best player to play the position.
Legacy-wise, Rodgers may never pass Starr or even Favre, but talent- and ability-wise, he’s ahead of both. If I’m given the ability to select one player in their prime to lead a generic team, it’s undoubtedly Rodgers.
Before Lombardi showed up in 1959, Starr possessed a 3-14 record as a starter, with 11 touchdowns and 22 interceptions. Even during his prime, the 1967 season saw Starr throw nine touchdowns to 17 interceptions, and the Packers still went on to win the Super Bowl.
Although Starr was a sensational field general and leader, his pure ability was nothing better than above average. When you combined the two, you make a case for a great all around player, who benefited from having an all-star team around him, while learning from the greatest football coach of all-time
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Not taking anything away from the legacy Starr created in Green Bay, but his talent and ability are a mere fraction of Rodgers’.
Favre poses the biggest threat to Rodgers in terms of ability, but still falls short as well.
Favre was humorous, durable, and likable while being apart of a franchise that he helped turn itself around.
He was determined, fiery, and influential throughout his leadership reign, while leading the Packers to their third Super Bowl championship which helped revitalized the culture.
He wasn’t the quarterback Rodgers is though.
During his 16 seasons as the starting quarterback of the Green Bay Packers, Favre averaged 17.9 interceptions a season while Rodgers has averaged less than half of that with only eight a season.
Favre’s QBR was also 18.3 points lower than Rodgers’ as the Packers starting quarterback.
In fact, Favre’s QBR in Green Bay calculated out to a 85.3 meaning his career average is 6.9 points lower than Rodgers’ worst career season in terms of QBR, which was this season at 92.7.
Rodgers has already won as many Super Bowls as Favre did, as well.
Analytically, Rodgers is by far the better option over Favre from a decision making standpoint. But don’t take my word for it, let’s ask Greg Jennings who enjoyed success with both:
In terms of who the best all-time player is, Rodgers falls short. His legacy and the significance of the stamp he has left on the Green Bay Packers franchise, does not compare to that of Starr or Favre.
What Rodgers does possess is more talent than both of them, meaning he is the greatest player in franchise history to play the position.
I would even argue that he may be one of the NFL’s greatest quarterbacks of all-time, purely from an ability standpoint. If you are given the task of picking one quarterback throughout NFL history, to simply lace em up and play a game for you at the quarterback position, Aaron Rodgers may be your guy.
He has the accuracy among any great NFL quarterback, power to throw the ball 65 yards, and ability to run as well. He is the NFL’s all-time leader in QBR, while his touchdown-interception ratio (3.95) may never be touched.
So when debating who the greatest Packers quarterback of all-time was, Starr or Favre may be your guy, and I would agree, but when debating who the best player to play the position was, your answer is:
Aaron Rodgers.