Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets have struggled this season, but the veteran quarterback joined an elite list on Sunday evening with an early touchdown pass.
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Rodgers found tight end Tyler Conklin for a touchdown midway through the second quarter. This score and the extra point gave the Jets a 7-6 lead. It also marked Rodgers' 500th passing touchdown in the regular season. He became only the fifth player in NFL history to reach this historic milestone.
And @T_Conk1 grabs that TD pass for @AaronRodgers12' 500th!
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/05Wqv0FGY3
— New York Jets (@nyjets) January 5, 2025
The elite list of players with more than 500 touchdown passes featured two quarterbacks in the Hall of Fame and two destined for the hallowed halls. Brett Favre ended his career with 508 passing touchdowns, Peyton Manning ended his career with 539, Drew Brees ended his career with 571, and Tom Brady ended his career with 649.
Rodgers was not done with one touchdown, however. He later found Allen Lazard for a 13-yard score before halftime to increase the Jets' lead over their AFC East rivals. Rodgers then hit Davante Adams for a four-yard score in the fourth quarter. This took him to 502 career passing touchdowns in the regular season.
Rodgers still wasn't done. He found running back Breece Hall for a touchdown with just over two minutes remaining in the game. This took him to 503 passing touchdowns in the regular season and marked his first four-touchdown game with the Jets.
This milestone was significant considering the four-time MVP faces an uncertain future. He acknowledged in the week leading up to the Dolphins game that his time with the Jets could end after Week 18. NFL insider Ian Rapoport then reported that people close to Rodgers are preparing as if Sunday's game was his last in the NFL.
If Rodgers does not return to the league next season, he will end his career with Hall-of-Fame-worthy numbers.
He will be one of five quarterbacks with more than 500 passing touchdowns. He will have the seventh-most passing yards in NFL history (62,952) after passing Matt Ryan (62,792) during the Week 18 game.
According to the NFL, Rodgers tallied his 34th career four-touchdown game in Week 18. This was good enough for fourth in NFL history.
