Aaron Rodgers may have played his final playoff game on Monday night, as the Steelers suffered a disappointing 30-6 loss to the Houston Texans. Speculation is rife about Rodgers’ future in football, but he refrained from discussing retirement, emphasizing that he does not want to make an emotional decision in the immediate aftermath of the game.
Throughout his remarkable playoff career, Rodgers has delivered impressive statistics, standing alongside some of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history. He has thrown 45 career playoff touchdown passes, just one shy of Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes, who holds the second spot in the all-time list behind Tom Brady’s record of 88.
Remarkably, Rodgers has only thrown two pick-sixes in his entire playoff career, with the latest occurring in what could be the final pass of his career. He is among three quarterbacks to have started a playoff game at the age of 42 or older, joining the ranks of Brady and Drew Brees. All three have showcased longevity in an era where physical demands on quarterbacks are exceptionally high.
In his 22 playoff appearances, Rodgers has faced challenges, specifically in three games where he failed to throw a touchdown, including the recent loss and the 2011 NFC Championship Game against the Bears, which the Packers won en route to Super Bowl XLV. The last five seasons have seen Rogers without a playoff victory; his most recent win was in 2020, against the Los Angeles Rams, before falling short in the NFC Championship to Brady and the Buccaneers.
Despite the heartache, only eight starting quarterbacks have achieved more playoff victories than Rodgers, who is tied with iconic figures Troy Aikman and Roger Staubach, each having 11 wins. Over the course of his playoff journey, Rodgers has managed an impressive 31 more touchdown passes than interceptions, maintaining a robust 3-to-1 ratio with 45 touchdowns against just 14 interceptions.
Rodgers’ first playoff game came with the Packers in 2010, leading to a remarkable span of 5,846 days until Monday night’s potential finale. Regardless of the outcome of this playoff year, Rodgers’ contributions to the game have etched his name in football history, exemplifying the dedication and skill that define a Hall of Fame career. As fans and analysts ponder his next moves, there’s hope that he will continue to inspire both on and off the field.