When Aaron Rodgers throws his first go of the 2024 season, he’ll grow to be the tenth quarterback to hitch an unique membership.
If Rodgers will get to 50 makes an attempt — and the promise of the Jets’ season depends upon him far exceeding that quantity in his return from a torn Achilles — the improved standards will whittle down membership membership to seven.
Within the Tremendous Bowl period courting to 1966, simply 9 quarterbacks have thrown a go throughout their age-41 season — a major drop-off from the 22, together with Rodgers, of their age-40 season, in response to Professional Soccer Reference.
Take away the unparalleled Tom Brady — who gained his sixth Tremendous Bowl ring at 41 years outdated in 2018 — and the outcomes are a blended bag that spotlight how dangerous it may be to have a lot using on an arm with a profession pitch rely like Rodgers’ 7,661.
However Rodgers’ self-confidence and savvy matches any of the greats.
“I all the time felt that I may play with anyone within the league at the moment if I used to be wholesome,” Corridor of Famer Warren Moon advised The Put up when requested concerning the “41” membership. “It’s one thing that’s within the minds of individuals in soccer: If you get to a sure age — in my days it was 34 or 35 — your profession is on the again burner, aside from Tom Brady.
“It’s a younger man’s recreation, however I actually felt like I used to be in actually good condition to have the ability to carry out. Was I as athletic as I used to be once I first got here within the league? No, however I made up for it with my information of defenses and my anticipation. I acquired higher as I acquired older.”
Rodgers has made comparable changes.
However no quarterback has come off of a critical season-ending harm in his age-40 season — Drew Brees (torn thumb ligaments) and Moon (excessive ankle sprain) returned to the sphere earlier than that yr was over — to play at a excessive stage in his age-41 season.
Rodgers, who will flip 41 Dec. 3 forward of a Week 14 recreation towards the Dolphins, is all the time motivated by the prospect to make historical past and doesn’t “wish to exit as a bum.”
“If you get to this age, you’re searching for issues to inspire you and provide you with that chip in your shoulder — to maintain you sharp so far as your competitiveness,” stated Moon, MVP of the 1997 Professional Bowl at 41.
“Aaron is a four-time MVP, so in his thoughts he can suppose, ‘I’ve completed all of it and what do I must show?’ However now, due to this harm, persons are beginning to doubt him a bit bit, so it’s one thing to inspire him and say, ‘I’m going to go on the market and present these guys I nonetheless have that very same kind of MVP play in me.’ ”
Saying it’s one factor.
Doing it’s one other.
“In New York, they’ve gone all-in on Aaron,” Moon stated. “It’s unlucky he had that harm, however he appears to be transferring round rather well in all of the tapes I’ve seen of him. He has the expertise round him to do it. Having familiarity with an offensive coordinator [Nathaniel Hackett] helps, too. It’s all there for him. It’s only a matter of how wholesome he’s and the way wholesome he stays. We’ll see what occurs.”
Right here’s the checklist, sorted by go makes an attempt within the age-41 season:
Tom Brady (2018, 570 makes an attempt)
Throughout a season during which he admittedly was barely talking to go coach Invoice Belichick, Brady completed outdoors the highest seven in most main passing classes.
However he out-dueled first-year starter Patrick Mahomes within the playoffs on the way in which to successful the Tremendous Bowl in his second-to-last season with the Patriots.
Loopy because it sounds, Brady gained one other Tremendous Bowl at 43 years outdated and led the NFL in yards (5,316) and touchdowns (43) at 44, and in completions and makes an attempt at each 44 and 45.
Rodgers will not be Brady, even when he may like to attract that comparability.
Warren Moon (1997, 528)
Moon made eight straight Professional Bowls (ages 32-39) however the Vikings gave their beginning job in 1997 to Brad Johnson and launched Moon, who didn’t wish to take a pay reduce to be a backup.
He refutes stories through the years that he had a damaged collarbone — only a misdiagnosed excessive ankle sprain — at 40 in 1996.
All that Moon did to make an announcement in his first yr with the Seahawks was change John Friesz because the starter after one recreation and return to the Professional Bowl, throwing extra touchdowns (25) than he had in all however one season since he was 34 years outdated in 1990.
An 8-8 document was a hit for Seattle in these lowly AFC days.
Moon performed three extra seasons however made simply 11 whole begins, as his age 41-season was the final true act in a legendary profession.
Vinny Testaverde (2004, 495)
Outdated loyalties die laborious.
In his second yr on the helm of the Cowboys, head coach Invoice Parcells signed Testaverde, who almost led the Parcells-coached Jets to the Tremendous Bowl in 1998.
Testaverde inherited the beginning job when Cowboys surprisingly launched playoff-tested starter Quincy Carter for allegedly failing a drug check.
Testaverde confirmed his age with an NFL-leading 20 interceptions.
He was overtaxed — 495 makes an attempt was the third-highest whole of his 21-year profession — and went 5-10 forward of backup Drew Henson (former Yankees prospect) and an unheralded second-year prospect named Tony Romo earlier than returning to the Jets as a backup in 2005.
Drew Brees (2020, 390)
The uncooked numbers for Brees (9-3 document, 24 touchdowns, six interceptions) are good.
However the decline was evident lengthy earlier than the Saints had been upset by Brady’s Buccaneers within the playoffs.
Brees missed 4 video games with damaged ribs, however accidents to his proper shoulder earlier in his profession in the end sapped his arm power after greater than 10,000 passes.
His yards-per-attempt (7.5) in 2020 was tied for his second-lowest since 2007.
Brees retired after the season.
Brett Favre (2010, 358)
The top snuck up quick on Favre, who had unretired twice and had the Vikings on the verge of the Tremendous Bowl along with his career-best and NFL-leading 1.3 % interception charge in 2009.
However Favre was enduring a depressing 2010 season — 10 touchdowns and 18 interceptions — for the 4-7 Vikings when a sprained AC joint in his shoulder led to the tip of his NFL-record streak of 297 consecutive begins.
He returned after one recreation missed and suffered a concussion on the ultimate snap of his profession, with two video games to go.
Doug Flutie (2003, 167)
Lengthy earlier than he retired because the NFL’s all-time chief in completions, makes an attempt and completion proportion, Brees was benched for the 41-year-old Flutie with the Chargers off to a 1-7 begin.
Flutie accomplished 54.5 % of his passes — nearly precisely his profession common — and mixed for 11 passing and dashing touchdowns with simply 4 interceptions whereas going 2-3 earlier than giving the job again to Brees.
He caught round two extra years as a backup.
George Blanda (1968, 49)
By this level, Blanda, who led the NFL in completions and makes an attempt from 1963-65, primarily was a kicker. He began one recreation at quarterback over his last 9 seasons (retiring at 48 years outdated in 1975) and led the Raiders to a 43-7 win with 4 landing passes towards the Broncos.
Earl Morrall (1975, 43)
A former NFL MVP (1968) who was greatest often called a backup to Corridor of Famers Johnny Unitas and Bob Griese accomplished 26 passes over 5 video games in his penultimate season.
The final of his 102 profession begins, for the Dolphins on Dec. 1, 1975, made him the oldest quarterback to start out a NFL recreation for almost 30 years.
Mark Brunell (2011, 3)
What Jets fan can neglect Brunell’s three passes — the totality of his season — in reduction of Mark Sanchez on the finish of a 45-19 loss to Eagles in the course of the last yr of his profession?
Brunell began only one recreation (for the Saints) after turning 37.
