With four MVPs and a Super Bowl ring in his cabinets, no one doubts Aaron Rodgers’ talent. The controversy begins when deciding if he belongs on the GOAT shortlist. A former Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes teammate erased him from the list altogether, calling him an “underachiever.”
No one doubts the talent of the New York Jets quarterback. In his 21-year career, he has been named to the Pro Bowl 10 times, has four first-team All-Pro nods, and holds the career passer rating record at 103.6 points and the single-season passer rating record at 122.5 points in 2011.
Rodgers’ personality has him constantly in the headlines. From his snubs to teammates and coaches to his thunderous statements, the former Green Bay Packers signal-caller always knows how to make headlines.
Still, when it comes to being the Greatest of All Time (GOAT), some don’t buy into Rodgers’ candidacy. LeSean McCoy, former running back for the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, even considered it disrespectful to put him alongside the likes of Brady and Mahomes.
.@stephenasmith says even a Jets Super Bowl couldn’t put Aaron Rodgers in the NFL GOAT conversation 👀 pic.twitter.com/9I9LAEMsP7
— First Take (@FirstTake) May 30, 2024
Rodgers is an “underachiever,” McCoy said
“We put him [Rodgers] in that as a GOAT of the GOATs and he’s not. Because they, other GOATs, are not like this,” McCoy said in a talk on Fox Sports’ SPEAK podcast, in which several other players participated, including James Jones, Rodgers’ former teammate in Green Bay.
McCoy recognized Rodgers’ talent. However, he considered that rather than being an argument in favor of the quarterback, it is a weight against him since his achievements do not reflect his great ability. “He’s probably like one of the biggest underachievers that we’ve ever seen in the NFL,” McCoy said.
He explained that the Jets’ signal-caller stands out in the regular season but tends to shrink in the playoffs, hence why he has only played in one Super Bowl. The former running back emphasized that the best quarterbacks are more than their regular season statis. Their careers are also based on what they have achieved in the postseason.
Furthermore, McCoy recalled that when it comes to people like Brady, Mahomes, Peyton Manning, or Joe Montana, the talk revolves around their championships. However, when the conversation reaches the topic of Rodgers, “we change it for some reason.”
Patrick Mahomes in 6 years as a starter has 3 Super Rings and has more playoff victories than Peyton Manning, Terry Bradshaw, John Elway, Steve Young, Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees. All those guys played 14 or more seasons. @TomBrady is the Goat and @PatrickMahomes is closing in. pic.twitter.com/XbLgPtDEZH
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) February 12, 2024
Jones’ silent disagreement
Jones, for his part, avoided entering into controversy. However, his gesture of disagreement throughout McCoy’s presentation was more than eloquent. The former running back played with Rodgers for six years in Green Bay and knows firsthand the capabilities of his former teammate.
The controversy continues in the air. Rodgers has already warned that this year, he is looking for the title that has eluded him for almost 15 years. If he gets it, he will consolidate his case to be the GOAT. If he does not, at 40, it may be the last opportunity of his long and outstanding career.
