As we're at the point of the NFL offseason where not much is happening, the folks at ESPN used some of this down time to put together an All Quarter Century Team, using a specific set of criteria to compile a 53-man roster that features 25 offensive players, 23 defensive players, and five special teams players, also including a full 17-man practice squad and a full coaching staff.
Yeah, it's quite thorough.
For Green Bay Packers fans, however, it could also be considered a little frustrating, as only one player to don the Green & Yellow from 2000 to 2024 made the main roster. And it's not as if said player will ever be remembered as some sort of Packers legend, as he only called northeastern Wisconsin home for three of his 17 NFL seasons.
Yes, that was a hint, one that obviously takes the likes of Aaron Rodgers and Charles Woodson out of play. But don't worry, we'll get to those two in a moment.
We just wanted to give you one last chance to make your guess before we make the big reveal that the lone Packers player to make the rain roster is—wait for it—Julius Peppers.
Julius Peppers was the only Packers player to make the main roster of ESPN's All Quarter Century Team
One of four edge rushers included on the 53-man roster, the other three slots going to DeMarcus Ware, Jared Allen, and Myles Garrett, Peppers undoubtedly deserves a spot on this team.
After all, his 159.5 sacks, 24.5 of which came during his three-year run with the Packers (2014-16), are the most of any player over the last 25 seasons, and his 52 forced fumbles, eight of which came in a Green Bay uniform, rank second behind only Robert Mathis, who racked up 54 for the Indianapolis Colts from 2003 to 2016.
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Peppers' best season with the Packers was his second with the club in 2015, a season during which he amassed 37 total tackles, nine tackles for loss, 16 QB hits, and 10.5 sacks to earn the ninth and final Pro Bowl selection of his Hall of Fame career, which included 10 seasons with the Carolina Panthers (2002-09, 2017-18) and four campaigns with the Chicago Bears (2010-13).
As for Rodgers and Woodson, both were left off the actual team but were included as practice squad players.
As ESPN listed every position in order of where each player would land on the depth chart, Rodgers was the first QB cut from the main roster, losing out to Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, and Patrick Mahomes, respectively, all of whom have multiple Super Bowl wins on their resumes. Rodgers is joined on the practice squad by fellow one-time champion Drew Brees.
As for Woodson, who spent seven of his 18 seasons with the Packers, it almost seems that him splitting time between cornerback and safety cost him a spot on the main roster. Because from an overall standpoint, the eight-time All-Pro (four First Team, four Second Team) is easily one of the greatest defensive backs of all time.
The 1997 Heisman Trophy winner wasn't even mentioned at cornerback, the five main roster spots going to Darrelle Revis, Champ Bailey, Ronde Barber, Richard Sherman, and Patrick Peterson, and the practice squad slot going to Jalen Ramsey.
The four safety spots on the main roster went to Ed Reed, Troy Polamalu, Brian Dawkins, and Earl Thomas III, with Woodson occupying the lone practice squad slot.