The historical parallels are impossible to ignore.
A Green Bay Packers franchise legend, a Super Bowl-winning quarterback, a starter for 15-plus seasons is expected to move on to the New York Jets at the age of 39 – and giving way to players drafted three years prior with the intention of replacing him.
Aaron Rodgers revealed Wednesday on the “Pat McAfee Show” that he intends to play for the Jets this upcoming season, essentially ending his 18-year career with the Packers, the organization that drafted him in the first round in 2005.
The move mirrors what transpired between Brett Favre and the Packers 15 years earlier – a disgruntled signal-caller headed to the Big Apple, with Green Bay turning inward for the future.
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Another legend goes from Green Bay to the Jets
Rodgers told the YouTube audience of nearly 500,000 he is “debatably” the best player in franchise history, along with fellow quarterbacks Bart Starr and Favre, who forced his way out in 2008 and landed with the Jets, paving the way for Rodgers to start.
Both Rodgers and Favre depart with claims as No. 1. And both head east with their final passes in green and gold having interceptions.
As Rodgers noted at the beginning of his explanation, the front office in Green Bay is not the same as the one who drafted him – the group that also traded Favre.
“They felt like they were giving up a legend, but they felt really good about a young, emerging quarterback,” said ESPN analyst Mike Tannenbaum, who was the Jets’ general manager when Favre was acquired. “Ironically, it was Aaron Rodgers.”
The four-time MVP said he felt that the Packers had told people the organization was ready to move on from him and give Jordan Love, selected 26th overall in the 2020 draft, the opportunity to start.
Rodgers won back-to-back MVP awards in 2020 and 2021, but he and the Packers regressed this past season and missed the playoffs.
“A legend towards the end of their career,” Tannenbaum said of both Favre and Rodgers.
How Favre’s journey to New York differs from Rodgers’ path
Although Rodgers – who said he heavily considered retirement, while Favre announced his intention to do so in March 2008 before reversing course – said his mind has been made up about playing for the Jets since Friday. Since then, the quarterback carousel has continued to turn, with New York saving a seat for one special guest.
The Jets have a much bigger need at the position now than they did in 2008.
“At the time, we did have a good quarterback in Chad Pennington,” Tannenbaum told USA TODAY Sports. “Obviously, the Jets right now need a quarterback.”
Fifteen years ago, the Jets felt like they had pieces in place and were trying to compete against the New England Patriots, a perennial powerhouse in the AFC East with their own legendary quarterback in Tom Brady – although he suffered a season-ending knee injury the year Favre was in New York. Currently, the Jets have a different divisional foe they are trying to slay in the Buffalo Bills, who have Josh Allen signed to a long-term deal.
The pitch to Favre – which took several weeks, Tannenbaum said – included multiple components.
“We have an incredible practice facility,” Tannenbaum said. “It’s in a really quiet part of New Jersey, with access to New York City. You win in New York, there’s nothing else like it.”
The Favre trade materialized in August, a month before the season started. It took time for No. 4 to connect with quarterbacks coach Brian Daboll (now the head coach of the New York Giants) and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer. That won’t be much of an issue for Rodgers in New York, as he cited offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett as one reason why the Jets appealed to him.
“We wanted (Favre) to feel comfortable about where he was going to practice and the organization, and it took several weeks for that to happen,” Tannenbaum said.
Will Rodgers fare better than Favre in New York?
Favre’s Jets tenure was marred by the Jenn Sterger saga. He led the Jets to a 9-7 record, but they lost four of their final five as he tried to play through an arm injury and missed the playoffs. On Feb. 11, 2009, Favre retired. The Jets released him in April and drafted Mark Sanchez as his replacement. Favre signed with the Minnesota Vikings four months later.
On Wednesday, Rodgers pushed back on an ESPN report that he provided a list of players he would like the Jets to consider signing. But on Tuesday, the team agreed to terms on a four-year deal with former Packers receiver Allen Lazard – an example of him exerting influence, Tannenbaum said.
The trade is not done yet. But it is inevitable that Rodgers will follow in the footsteps of Favre once more.
Follow Chris Bumbaca on Twitter @BOOMbaca.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Aaron Rodgers, Brett Favre parallels intensify as Jets trade awaits