Tom Brady didn't mince words when discussing Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
The vast majority of NFL fans and media pundits had Aaron Rodgers left for dead after his unsuccessful stint with the New York Jets, so when the Pittsburgh Steelers signed him in free agency, many scoffed.
But here we are, five weeks into the season, and Rodgers has the Steelers sitting in first place in the AFC North at 3-1.
It's not like Rodgers is simply riding the wave, either. He has been playing very well, throwing for 786 yards, eight touchdowns and three interceptions while completing 68.5 percent of his passes and posting a 102.6 passer rating.
Tom Brady discussed Rodgers on FOX NFL Sunday, and he was clearly wowed with what he has seen from the 41-year-old.
Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers. Credit: Handout photo-Imagn Images.“Beyond impressed,” Brady said. “I think at that age, there are so many other factors that come into play about how to be a great quarterback. We all want to talk about what happens in the offseason with him, and there’s some things that are — there’s a lot of narratives out there. … It’s a little different. What we know about him on the field is that he’s a surgical passer. He’s got a killer instinct, he’s hyper competitive and he’s brought all of that to Pittsburgh.”
Of course, Rodgers spent the first 18 years of his career with the Green Bay Packers, winning four MVP awards and a Super Bowl to establish himself as one of the best quarterbacks ever. He was then traded to the Jets in 2023, but tore his Achilles one offensive series into the season.
Last year, Rodgers returned healthy and threw for 3,897 yards, 28 touchdowns and 11 picks. Certainly not bad numbers (they actually were on par with Patrick Mahomes), but because New York went just 5-12 and Rodgers is an easy target, many declared him to be washed.
Is the 10-time Pro Bowler the same player he was during his prime? No, but he remains a solid quarterback who can clearly lead his team to wins, even if the receiving corps is not exactly rife with weapons (the Steelers' wide receiver room beyond D.K. Metcalf is barren).
Pittsburgh had a Week 5 bye and will face the Cleveland Browns next Sunday.