Pro Football Hall-of-Famer Peyton Manning has backed Aaron Rodgers to emulate the great Tom Brady following his switch to the New York Jets for the 2023 season.
Rodgers' 18-year stay with the Green Bay Packers came to an end last month, after a move to the Jets was confirmed after weeks of speculation. Despite being 39, the quarterback has been backed to have another impressive season in his first year in Jets colours.
One man who is expecting big things from the veteran, is fellow NFL great Manning, due to Rodgers playing in a similar system to the one he was involved in during his time with the Packers.
The two-time Super Bowl champion told The Pat McAfee Show: "Let me tell you why I think it’s going to work. The fact that he has the same system that he ran in Green Bay… he’s going to be able to play so much faster.
"I mean, Pat, having to learn a new offence in your 18th, 19th year, it’s almost impossible because you have to unlearn your old offence." Manning compared the move to that of the great Brady to Tampa Bay Buccaneers after 19 years with the New England Patriots.
"You saw it with (Tom) Brady, and he goes to Tampa. They’re kind of making him learn some different language," he added." All of a sudden, Week 6, they’re like, ‘Hey maybe we should just call the plays that Tom used to run in New England.
"Oh okay, let’s try that.’ Boom, they go to the Super Bowl." Rodgers is no doubt a huge asset to the Jets team, bringing some much-needed experience to their ranks. And, despite having only been with the New York setup a week, the former Packers star is already making an impact.
Head coach Robert Saleh revealed: "It's been a fun week, a fun week. To get Aaron here, it's a blessing. We got better this week - a lot better this week. We're a really, really young team, especially on offence, and just to watch him and Nathaniel [Hackett] and the way they communicate together.
"He's already made his presence felt with regards to meetings and input, just discussions on all of the different things we're trying to get accomplished on offence."
