Aaron Rodgers overtakes John Elway in career passing yardage

It’s not quite payback for Super Bowl XXXII, but Rodgers has passed the Broncos great in a major career milestone

It took until the second week of the 2021 NFL season, but Aaron Rodgers has passed a significant historical statistical mark

He only needed 98 yards entering the evening and after his absolute dime for 50 yards to a streaking Davante Adams, Rodgers has surpassed former Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway for 10th place all-time in career passing yards. Rodgers needed 96 yards passing on Monday night against the Detroit Lions and got it with the much-needed long completion to Adams.

After a sack forced the Packers into a 3rd and 12, Rodgers needed to make a play with the defense struggling mightily and he delivered in spades. A quick drop back and throw deep to Adams running a go-route on the right sidelines provided the spark that not only propelled Rodgers up the list of all-time greats but also set the Packers up to take the lead. Two plays later, Rodgers hit tight end Robert Tonyan for a touchdown to give Green Bay their first lead of the night 21-17.

In terms of ascending the yardage list even further, this is likely as high as Rodgers will climb in 2021. Next on the list is current Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan with 55,767 yards (before today’s game). Rodgers surpassing that mark would need Ryan to miss some time or otherwise have a very poor season. Former New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning is the next retired player at 57,023, so Rodgers would have to shatter Peyton Manning’s 2013 record of 5,477 yards to make that happen.

There were many prognosticators who felt that record would be endangered this season so it can’t be completely ruled out, but a 6,000-plus yard season from Rodgers would be a spectacle to behold.

It might be unlikely, but if there’s one thing we all know by now it is this: never underestimate Aaron Rodgers.