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It looks like the Green Bay Packers are looking to move on from Aaron Rodgers sooner rather than later. Over the years, Rodgers has become one of the best quarterbacks to ever play in the NFL. He has also made a lot of money since becoming the team’s starter and franchise QB in 2008. However, he also made a lot of money while on the bench backing up Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre. 

Aaron Rodgers backed up Brett Favre for three seasons

In the 2005 NFL draft, Aaron Rodgers kept sliding and ultimately became a guy that the Green Bay Packers had to take. Rodgers was too good for them to pass on. He then sat on the bench behind future Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre for three seasons.

While the Packers did not make the playoffs in two of those seasons, Favre’s last season in Green Bay was incredible. In 2007, Favre earned his first Pro Bowl selection since the 2003 season. He threw for 4,155 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions. The Packers ultimately went 13-3 and made it to the NFC Championship Game that season. They almost went to the Super Bowl too as the NFC Championship Game went to overtime, but the New York Giants ended up winning 23-20.

Favre then announced his retirement after that season but later changed his mind. The Packers then ultimately traded Favre to the New York Jets and chose to move on with Rodgers. 

Rodgers has been a legend ever since

Once Aaron Rodgers became the Packers’ starting quarterback in 2008, he almost instantly became one of the best quarterbacks in the entire NFL. He threw for 4,038 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions in 2008. He has only thrown 10 or more interceptions one other time since that season. 

Rodgers earned a Pro Bowl selection in 2009 and got the Packers to the playoffs. Then in his third season as the starter in 2010, Rodgers helped the Packers win the Super Bowl. That is the only Super Bowl title Rodgers has won with the Packers, but he has taken them to four NFC Championship Games, one being just last season.

Here is a look at some of Rodgers’ accomplishments over the years. 

  • Eight-time Pro Bowl selection 
  • Two-time first-team All-Pro
  • Two-time NFL MVP
  • 46,946 career passing yards (13th all-time)
  • 364 career passing touchdowns (eighth all-time)
  • 102.4 career passer rating (No. 1 all-time) 

Aaron Rodgers is one of the greatest quarterbacks of all-time. He has made a lot of money in his career because of this. He also, however, earned a lot of money as Brett Favre’s backup. 

Being a millionaire as a backup

While sitting on the Green Bay Packers' bench behind Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers was a millionaire despite barely playing in any games.
Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers during a game against the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium in 2006. | Mark Konezny/Getty Images

In 15 seasons with the Green Bay Packers, Aaron Rodgers has made over an estimated $219.36 million, according to Spotrac. He also earned a lot while backing up Brett Favre. During his first three seasons with the Packers, Rodgers earned over an estimated $6.21 million. He earned the most in his second season when the Packers paid him $3.36 million, according to Spotrac.

Rodgers only threw 59 total passes combined in those three seasons. So, he essentially got paid more than $105,000 per pass attempt in his first three seasons.

Since 2008, Aaron Rodgers has been one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play. He has, however, been making good money ever since his rookie season in 2005. It looks like, now, though, that Jordan Love will be in the same boat Rodgers was in his first three seasons. Love will be making money behind a future Hall of Fame quarterback. The difference is, though, that Rodgers earned it with his play in college. Love is coming off of a season where he threw 17 interceptions for a school that plays in the Mountain West Conference.

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David Wysong

David Wysong began his sportswriting career in 2013 while still in high school and joined Sportscasting in 2020, where he channels his die-hard passion for the NFL (Indianapolis Colts), NBA (Cleveland Cavaliers), college football (Ohio State), and MLB (Cincinnati Reds) into covering the NFL, NBA, and LeBron James.

David’s inspiration comes from pursuing his childhood dream to write about sports. He served as the Editor-in-Chief of The News Record, the student newspaper at the University of Cincinnati, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in journalism, a double minor in electronic media and sports management, and the University of Cincinnati service to journalism award. David was a Society of Professional Journalists Region 4 Mark of Excellence finalist for in-depth reporting at The News Record and an Ohio Associated Press Media Editors Division I Best Sports Writer finalist at the Chillicothe Gazette.