On October 6, 2024, the quarterback of the Jets, Aaron Rodgers, made another important mark in the history of the NFL. Rodgers, now 40, became the ninth player to pass the 60,000-yard milestone, a feat accomplished during a game against the Minnesota Vikings at Tottenham Stadium in London.
Rodgers’ Historic Achievement
Rodgers, who had been with the Jets for more than a year, won the event with a 7-yard touchdown pass to teammate Tyler Conklin, even though they were down 17-7. Rodgers had a slow game in the first half, throwing for just 95 yards with two interceptions. His pass to Conklin was his first attempt of the second half.
This accomplishment puts Rodgers in an elite group that includes NFL stars Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, Brett Favre, Ben Roethlisberger, Philip Rivers, Matt Ryan, and Dan Marino.
The 60K Club Entrants and Rodgers’ Current Status
The last quarterback to join this prestigious club was Matt Ryan, former star of the Atlanta Falcons, who reached this point while playing for the Indianapolis Colts at the start of the 2022 season. Now, Rodgers is ranked ninth on the all-time passing yardage list and tied for fifth in touchdown passes, currently at 480. He is just 27 touchdowns behind his former Green Bay Packers teammate, Brett Favre.
Rodgers, reflecting on his success, said, “It seems like I’ve been playing, and naturally, this can be part of the process. I’m thankful that I’m still playing because there are videos like this that I have to beat. … I thank all the guys who caught me, all the guys who stopped me.”
Rodgers’ trip to the 60K Club
Rodgers switched to the Jets after 18 seasons with the Packers, coming up with 59,055 passing yards. His road to the 60K Club was delayed by an Achilles injury early in the 2023 season, which limited him to just four snaps.
Since replacing Favre as the Packers’ starter in 2008, Rodgers has steadily climbed the passing charts. He hit the 10,000-yard mark in 2010, 20,000 in 2012, 30,000 in 2015, 40,000 in 2018, and 50,000 in 2021. most of his passing yards (7,529).
A reunion with Davante Adams?
Interestingly, Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams, his favorite target during their time in Green Bay, may soon meet. The Jets have expressed interest in trading for the Las Vegas Raider wide receiver, potentially rekindling a successful quarterback-receiver partnership.
