Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has one of the greatest arms in the history of the NFL. Along with precision accuracy and sneaky scrambling ability, the cannon attached to his right shoulder are why he's a Super Bowl champion, four-time NFL MVP, ten-time Pro Bowl selection and four-time first-team All-Pro. And while the Kansas City Chiefs gunslinger Patrick Mahomes may be able to throw 90-yard bombs in warmups, and Aaron Rodgers Hail Mary can ruin a team's spirit, as he remains the all-time leader in dropping last-minute dimes.
Rodgers may need to refine his beer-chugging skills, but there's no question he's beloved in Wisconsin by the cheeseheads who've appreciated him the moment the Packers drafted him out of California in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft. The 37-year-old has helped blossom the careers of wide receivers like Davante Adams, Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb and James Jones since earning the starting role in 2008.
Rodgers signature play is without a doubt the Hail Mary. There's no other quarterback on Earth who can uncork a last-minute prayer pass from the 50-yard line like Rodgers. Defenders should beware whenever Rodgers throws from that distance, because it results in a touchdown at a surprisingly high rate compared with other passers.
Christian Petersen via Getty Images
Three. That's the number of times an Aaron Rodgers' Hail Mary has worked. For whatever reason, magic fills Lambeau Field and opposing stadiums when Rodgers lets one of these high-arching passes fly at the end of the second half of games.
From the "Miracle in Motown" to the other two postseason stunners, here are all of Aaron Rodgers' jaw-dropping Hail Mary passes.
3. The Miracle in Motown (Rodgers to Rodgers)
The Miracle in Motown checks in at #52! #NFL100 #GoPackGo pic.twitter.com/gEBIYJDza8
— GBP Daily - Rob Westerman lll (@GBPdaily) September 14, 2019
RELATED: Aaron Rodgers' Dating History Includes Hollywood Actresses and a NASCAR Driver
The only regular season Hail Mary on this list, the Miracle in Motown was Rodgers' first successful last-second heave. The Packers were down 21-23 to their NFC North rival Detroit Lions and things looked bleak at Ford Field as Rodgers took the snap on the final play of the game on Dec. 3, 2015.
Rodgers scrambled out of the pocket before launching a pass from his own 40-yard line. Tight end Richard Rodgers incredibly came down with it in the end zone for the 61-yard touchdown and Green Bay won the game walk-off style, 27-23. As Rodgers grows older and heads toward retirement, the Packers vs. Lions matchups are going to start tipping the other way.
2. Rodgers Sends it to Overtime (Rodgers to Janis)
47. HAIL NO, NOT AGAIN
Jan. 16, 2016Falling away from the throw, Packers QB Aaron Rodgers launches 41-yard TD pass to Jeff Janis, sending playoff game into OT, where Cardinals win it.
Factoid: Rodgers did it again in the following playoffs for third Hail Mary TD in 13 months. pic.twitter.com/gEo5hRWF1C
— Gil Brandt (@Gil_Brandt) July 20, 2019
Rodgers did it again more than a month after the Miracle in Motown. The Packers faced a seven-point deficit down 13-20 on the final play of the fourth quarter in a divisional round playoff game against the Arizona Cardinals on January 16, 2016.
Rodgers rolled out to his left and flung a Hail Mary into the sky at University of Phoenix Stadium. Wide receiver Jeff Janis, who had caught just two passes all season, drifted back into the end zone and came down with the touchdown over two defenders, one of which was All-Pro cornerback Patrick Peterson.
The touchdown sent the game to overtime, but the Packers wound up losing 26-20. Months later, Rodgers trolled Peterson over the divisional playoff Hail Mary pass at a celebrity golf tournament.
"The first thing (Rodgers) brought up was, 'How in the hell did you let that guy catch the Hail Mary? He only caught four passes all year,'" Peterson told ABC15's Craig Fouhy. Wrong, Patrick, it was two.
1. A Giant Hail Mary (Rodgers to Cobb)
#FBF to @AaronRodgers12 INCREDIBLE Hail Mary in last year's Wild Card game against the Giants ?
This year's Wild Card Round starts TOMORROW! ? pic.twitter.com/MwgaQU7oFl
— NFL UK (@NFLUK) January 5, 2018
This one was a little different scenario. The Packers were up just 7-6 as the final seconds of the first half wound down in a wild card game against the New York Giants in the 2017 NFL playoffs on January 8, 2017. Once again, Rodgers catapulted a pass from behind the 50-yard line.
It found wide receiver Randall Cobb in the back of the end zone behind the scrum of defensive backs. The Hail Mary touchdown pass before halftime helped propel the Packers to a 38-13 win at Lambeau Field.
And, because why not, here's all three of those successful Hail Mary passes in one video. Aaron Rodgers really is unbelievable. Head coach Mike McCarthy was lucky to have him.
All of Aaron Rodgers' Hail Mary Passes
The Hail Mary King turns 36 today! ??? (via @nflthrowback)@AaronRodgers12 | @packers | #GoPackGo pic.twitter.com/qXW4lMDSMy
— NFL (@NFL) December 2, 2019
Nobody is safe from an Aaron Rodgers last-second pass. Every team in the NFL — the Pittsburgh Steelers, Dallas Cowboys, New England Patriots, Cleveland Browns and Las Vegas Raiders included — better be ready for the best Hail Mary-thrower in NFL history. Let's see Tom Brady complete these.
This post was originally published on January 16, 2020.
