It's undeniable that Tom Brady is the most successful quarterback of all time, but it's also fair to say Aaron Rodgers might be the most gifted passer the sport has ever seen. It's the argument Green Bay Packers fans have made for years despite his failure to win a second Super Bowl.
Brady won with an elite mentality and the football IQ to understand a defensive scheme better than the players executing it. But when it comes to throwing a football – the accuracy, the touch, even just the aesthetics and elegance of each pass – Rodgers is tough to beat.
Rodgers is running out of time to add a second Lombardi Trophy to his glittering resume, but he still might go down as the greatest passer the NFL has ever seen. Brady believes so. He said as much while appearing on The Overlap's Stick to Football podcast.
"I love Aaron. I think there's no greater passer of the football than Aaron Rodgers," said Brady. "You see everyone do it, and then you see one person throw the ball that much better. Aaron Rodgers was incredible. It's hard to put into words how incredible he passes the ball. The ball, the way it comes out of his hand, the way that it spins and delivers with the pace and with the accuracy, it's like a bullet. There's only probably three people in the history of the NFL that could do it like him."
Tom Brady believes there is 'no greater passer' than Aaron Rodgers, and he's right
Packers fans understand it. Rodgers often gets bashed for "only" winning one championship, but there's no denying he's among the greatest to ever do it. Brady may be the most clutch quarterback in history, but many of the Packers' playoff defeats in the Rodgers era came in spite of his performance.
Whether it be losing to the Arizona Cardinals despite scoring 45 points, or Rodgers having to watch from the sidelines while Colin Kaepernick rushed for 181 yards and two touchdowns, or Raheem Mostert piling up 220 yards and four touchdowns.
Brady is 100 percent right that there's "no greater passer of the football" than Rodgers. Look, Jordan Love is fun to watch and throws a beautiful pass. Brett Favre's throws were like rockets. But Rodgers spoiled us. Every pass was so easy on the eye, just a flick of the wrist that would perfectly spiral into a bucket.
Brady compared Rodgers to Brazilian soccer legend Roberto Carlos, who scored arguably the greatest free kick of all time by seemingly defying physics with the way he curled the ball. Carlos had an unmatched ability to put the ball wherever he wanted while making it look magical.
Rodgers is very much the Carlos of the NFL. Brady won more games and championships, but you'll struggle to find a quarterback more gifted when it comes to throwing a football.
It also shows that those physical gifts aren't everything. Quarterback is arguably the most important position in sports, but it's hard to win championships without an elite defense. Or competent special teams. Rodgers learned this the hard way.
Brady also won in other ways. He could throw with pinpoint accuracy, and while he may not be the most gifted passer of all time, his ability to dissect a defense before the snap was perhaps only matched by Peyton Manning.
And while we're making soccer comparisons, Brady also had the relentless hunger to win championships that can only be compared to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in the modern era. It's what turns elite players into The GOATS.
Brady knew how to win, and he is the most clutch quarterback of all time. He is the NFL's GOAT. But as Brady pointed out and Packers fans know better than anyone, when it comes to the art of throwing a football, there's nobody better than Rodgers.
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