NFL legend Brett Favre has warned people not to bet against Aaron Rodgers after his blockbuster trade to the New York Jets was finally completed on Monday.
Rodgers, Favre's successor at the Green Bay Packers back in 2008, has continued to follow in his footsteps with a late-career move to "Gang Green", and the 53-year-old believes the Jets will get good value after trading away a package that is likely to include a 2024 first-round pick.
Given Rodgers will turn 40 in December, it is a move rooted in contending for the Super Bowl crown this season, but Farve says the Jets have the right man under centre. "Aaron will do great," Favre told ESPN. "He will handle the transition as well as anyone. (He 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.
"And I think he is the best at making everyone around him better. I would rather not bet at all than bet against him."
Favre spent 16 years at Lambeau Field before a one-year stint with the Jets in 2008 and two years back in the NFC North with the Minnesota Vikings and Rodgers' career has followed a very similar course to date. Both led the Packers to a single NFL title and delivered many years of elite-level performance.
But Rodgers – who spent three seasons as Favre's backup after being drafted in 2005 – will hope that is where the parallels end. Favre's one year with the Jets may have ended over .500 with a 9-7 record, but it was not enough to reach the playoffs and he initially retired through injury before coming back a few months later to sign with the Vikings.
What four-time MVP Rodgers has in his favour going into the new season is a roster stacked with young talent, including both the offensive and defensive rookies of the year in Garrett Wilson and Sauce Gardner respectively.
Their playoff chances were alive until Week 18 last season, but they missed out due to a lack of competent quarterback play through the season, meaning the franchise has gone 12 seasons without making the playoffs.
Despite a substandard season in his final year with the Packers with an 8-9 record, Rodgers is confident he can end the franchise's long wait for a playoff run.
“I’m an old guy, so I want to be at a place that can win it all and I believe we can do that here,” he said in an introductory press conference.
“That Super Bowl III trophy is looking a little lonely," he added, referencing the team's only NFL title in 1969.
