LONDON — New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers reached another milestone Sunday, becoming the ninth player in NFL history to pass for 60,000 yards in a career.
Rodgers, 40, did it on another continent, as the Jets faced the Minnesota Vikings at Tottenham Stadium. He surpassed 60,000 with a pass to tight end Tyler Conklin, a 7-yard gain with the Jets trailing 17-7. Rodgers passed for only 95 yards in the first half, with two interceptions. His completion to Conklin was his first attempt of the second half.
Rodgers finished the game with 244 yards passing and two touchdowns, but he had three interceptions, including one in the final minute by Stephon Gilmore that stopped the Jets as they were driving for a potential go-ahead score. The Vikings held on for a 23-17 victory.
The four-time MVP joined a fraternity that consists of Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, Brett Favre, Ben Roethlisberger, Philip Rivers, Matt Ryan and Dan Marino.
The previous quarterback to do it was Ryan, the longtime Atlanta Falcons star who did it while playing for the Indianapolis Colts in the 2022 opener.
Rodgers is ninth on the yardage list and still holding at fifth on the list for touchdown passes (480). He is 27 touchdowns behind Favre, his former Green Bay Packers teammate.
“It feels like I’ve been playing a long time, and naturally, this would be part of the process,” Rodgers said recently, anticipating 60,000. “I’m thankful to be playing still now that there’s milestones like this to hit. … I’m thankful for all the guys that caught passes from me, all the guys that blocked for me. I couldn’t name them all, but give me a little time.”
After 18 seasons with the Packers, Rodgers arrived in New York last year with 59,055 yards. He would have eclipsed 60,000 last season, but he played only four snaps due to a torn Achilles in the 2023 season opener.
After taking over for Favre as the Packers’ starter in 2008, Rodgers climbed steadily up the passing chart. He reached 10,000 in 2010 (a pass to Andrew Quarless), 20,000 in 2012 (Jordy Nelson), 30,000 in 2015 (Eddie Lacy), 40,000 in 2018 (Marquez Valdes-Scantling) and 50,000 in 2021 (Robert Tonyan).
His longest completion was a 93-yard touchdown to Nelson in 2011, and his most passing yards to any target is Davante Adams (7,529). Rodgers and Adams soon could reunite, as the Jets are interested in trading for the Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver.
