Aaron Rodgers breaks Packers record: Revisiting most memorable TDs
By Parker Moes
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers had already tied former Packer and current Hall-of-Fame quarterback Brett Favre for the Packers’ franchise lead in career passing touchdowns at 442.
Wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling caught the record-tying touchdown of 11 yards with 12:54 remaining in the fourth quarter in last week’s game against Baltimore. Rodgers would now have a shot at breaking the record at home against the reeling Cleveland Browns.
And he did just that. Let’s take a look at the journey to 443 and some of the memorable scores from Rodgers over his 16-year career thus far.
Touchdown No. 1: Aaron Rodgers to Greg Jennings – November 2007 at Dallas
Rodgers subbed in for an injured Favre, who had gotten injured in the second quarter due to a hit by Dallas cornerback Nate Jones and left the game never to return. Leaving a third-year backup in Rodgers to try to muster something on offense was no small task against Dallas’ stingy defense.
Down 27-10, Rodgers led an eight-play scoring drive, capped off by an 11-yard catch by Greg Jennings to cut the lead for Dallas to 27-17. Little did anyone know what this first score would do in the long run for Rodgers’ legacy as a whole in Green Bay.
Touchdown No. 50: Aaron Rodgers to Donald Driver – November 2009 at Detroit
Leading in the game 13-7, this score came in the third quarter putting Green Bay up 20-7 on a seven-yard pass play to veteran wide receiver Donald Driver. Having been his 50th regular-season touchdown in just his second year as a starter is pretty amazing to think back on.
Touchdown No. 100: Aaron Rodgers to James Jones – October 2011 at Atlanta
Down 14-9 in the third quarter, Rodgers would find James Jones along the right sideline for a 70-yard strike for the score to put the Packers up 15-14 with 3:53 left in the third quarter.
This would end up being a 25-14 victory over Atlanta after Green Bay had trailed 14-0 early on. Rodgers and the Packers would go on to win eight straight games after the Atlanta victory, but faltered in Kansas City in Week 14, finishing with a 15-1 regular season record — Green Bay’s highest win total ever in a season.
Touchdown No. 150: Aaron Rodgers to Randall Cobb – October 2012 at St. Louis (Rams)
This score came in the third quarter on a goal-to-go situation. Rodgers found Randall Cobb in the end zone on a five-yard strike to bring the lead to 17-6 Green Bay.
Touchdown No. 400: Aaron Rodgers to Davante Adams – December 2020 vs. Philadelphia
Rodgers’ 400th touchdown happened in the third quarter on another goal-to-go situation as he found Davante Adams in the end zone for a nine-yard score to bring the lead to 20-3 Green Bay in the third quarter. Rodgers would reach the 400 touchdown mark the fastest of any quarterback in NFL history (193 games).
Touchdown No. 442: Aaron Rodgers to Marquez Valdes-Scantling – December 2021 at Baltimore
Aaron Rodgers’ franchise-record-tying touchdown happened early in the fourth quarter of Green Bay’s game against Baltimore as Rodgers found MVS for an 11-yard strike to bring his total touchdowns to 442, tying Hall-of-Famer Brett Favre for the franchise lead.
Touchdown No. 443: Aaron Rodgers to Allen Lazard – December 2021 vs. Cleveland
The record would not be tied for very long as Rodgers found Allen Lazard on an 11-yard pass for his record-breaking 443rd touchdown pass.
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He broke the record in just his 204th career start. Rodgers now ranks third in NFL history for the most touchdowns with one team behind Drew Brees with New Orleans (571) and Tom Brady with New England (541). With how prolific Rodgers’ career has been, he’s going to be adding onto the record this season.
Congratulations to Aaron Rodgers on breaking the record and here’s to an amazing career thus far.