A collection of 55 NFL coaches and executives believes Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers remains at the top of the top tier of NFL quarterbacks.
Mike Sando, formerly of ESPN and now of The Athletic, has compiled rankings and opinions of coaches and decision-makers from around the NFL each year for the last six years to create a “Quarterback Tiers” system. Every year, Rodgers has at least tied for the top spot of Tier 1, including this year.
Sando’s “Quarterback Tiers” for the 2019 season has Rodgers topping Tier 1, which includes Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Patrick Mahomes, Andrew Luck, Philip Rivers, Ben Roethlisberger and Russell Wilson.
No quarterback received more votes for the top tier than Rodgers’ 53. In fact, only two of the 55 coaches and executives voted for Rodgers to be in the second tier.
Even the majority of those most critical of Rodgers still had him in the top tier.
The obvious conclusion here is that Rodgers is still a feared and respected quarterback around the NFL, despite missing a big chunk of the 2017 season with a collarbone injury and struggling through one of the most trying and frustrating seasons of his NFL career in 2018.
Last season, Rodgers injured his knee in Week 1 but still managed to play in all 16 games. He threw 25 touchdown passes and two interceptions while directing an occasionally productive but often dysfunctional passing game that eventually contributed to a lost season and the firing of long-time coach Mike McCarthy.
It’s the start of a new era for Rodgers and the Packers.
With a contract tying him to Green Bay through the 2023 season and a new head coach installing a modern, tried-and-true offense, the now 35-year-old Rodgers has a chance to shake off two frustrating seasons and reclaim his spot as one of the NFL’s most dangerous and ruthlessly efficient passers in the game’s history.
Respect for Rodgers hasn’t waned around the league. It will still be interesting to see if the 2019 season represents the start of his next stretch of dominance or the continuation of a gradual decline.
