Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre is the one player who can relate to Aaron Rodgers‘s move to New York above all the rest. Prior to the 2008 season, Favre faced the same career path after being traded to the Jets following 16 seasons as the leader of the Packers.
While speaking with ESPN's Ed Werder, the fourth-ranked passing yards leader (71,838) in NFL history expressed confidence that Rodgers will find success in New York.
Via text, Favre proclaimed that “Aaron will do great!!!! He will handle the transition as well as anyone. Aaron is a very smart and instinctive person, on and off the field. In other words, you’re not going to catch him by surprise very often.”
Favre stated he wouldn’t be willing to bet against Rodgers making the Jets serious contenders in 2023. “I would rather not bet at all than bet against him,” he said.
To say the Jets are revisiting history would be an understatement.
Despite posting erratic production in ’08, passing for just as many interceptions (22) as touchdowns (22), Favre finished with a 9–7 record with Gang Green. After a strong start, Favre suffered a torn biceps tendon, and the Jets lost four of their last five games down the stretch and missed the playoffs.
August 7th, 2008: After 16 seasons, The Packers trade QB Brett Favre to the Jets
— NFL Stats (@NFL_Stats) April 24, 2023
April 24th, 2023: After 18 seasons, The Packers trade QB Aaron Rodgers to the Jets pic.twitter.com/jM363GTFdr
Favre, who was 38 when he was traded to New York, earned NFL league MVP honors three times while helping the Packers appear in two Super Bowls—winning Super Bowl XXXI while losing Super Bowl XXXII. Rodgers, now 39, heads to New York with one Super Bowl (XLV) victory and four league MVP awards.
After dealing considerably more draft capital to earn the services of Rodgers, New York can only hope that Favre’s prediction can at the very least help the starving franchise end their 12-year playoff drought—the longest stretch of futility of any team.
