Aaron Rodgers Becomes Fifth NFL Player to Reach 500 Regular-Season Touchdowns
Aaron Rodgers achieved a significant milestone on Sunday, becoming just the fifth player in NFL history to throw 500 regular-season touchdown passes. The moment came in the second quarter of the New York Jets’ 32-20 victory over the Miami Dolphins.
With the Jets facing first-and-goal at the Miami 5-yard line, Rodgers dropped back, bought time in the pocket by running forward, and then threw a precise pass to tight end Tyler Conklin in the end zone. The touchdown gave the Jets a 7-6 lead with 7:57 left before halftime.
“Yeah, it was good, that was good,” Rodgers said after the play. “It was kind of like old-school red-zone touchdown, like we did for so long in Green Bay. A play breaks down, move up in the pocket, guys keep working.”
Conklin handed Rodgers the ball as the team celebrated in the end zone, with the quarterback receiving hugs and high-fives from his teammates. The milestone placed Rodgers among NFL legends, joining Tom Brady (649), Drew Brees (571), Peyton Manning (539), and Brett Favre (508) as the only players to reach 500 regular-season touchdown passes.
The TD pass against Miami also marked Rodgers’ 25th touchdown pass of the season, the 14th time in his 20-year career that he’s reached that number. This tied him with Brees for the third-most seasons with 25+ touchdowns, trailing only Brady (17) and Manning (16).
Rodgers Continues to Make History
Rodgers didn’t stop at 500 touchdowns. Later in the game, he passed Matt Ryan (62,792 career passing yards) for seventh place on the NFL’s all-time passing list. He then threw his 501st touchdown on a 13-yard pass to wide receiver Allen Lazard with 59 seconds left in the first half.
Rodgers’ third touchdown pass of the game, No. 502, was another milestone. His 4-yard pass to Davante Adams marked the 83rd touchdown connection between the two, surpassing Miami’s Dan Marino and Mark Clayton for the third-most touchdowns between a quarterback and wide receiver in NFL history.
Rodgers capped the day with his 503rd touchdown, a 6-yard pass to running back Breece Hall with 2:30 remaining in the game.
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Jets’ Interim Coach Praises Rodgers
Jets interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich praised Rodgers after the game, calling him “one of the greatest that has ever played this game,” and added, “He put that on full display again.”
At 41 years old, Rodgers continues to demonstrate why he’s considered one of the best quarterbacks of all time. However, his future in the NFL remains uncertain. Despite reaching the milestone, Rodgers had a rough outing against Buffalo the previous week, throwing no touchdowns, two interceptions, and getting sacked four times. The Jets are now facing questions about his future, with general manager and head coach searches underway.
Rodgers, who has one year remaining on his contract with the Jets, has said he would prefer to return next season, but he plans to take time in the offseason to consider his playing future.
The uncertainty surrounding Rodgers’ future with the Jets adds to the speculation about whether the team will want to bring him back under the new management. The franchise may decide to go in a different direction as they undergo a rebuild.
Rodgers’ Milestones and Future
- 500th touchdown pass: Thrown to Tyler Conklin against Miami.
- 502nd touchdown pass: 4-yard connection with Davante Adams, breaking an NFL record.
- 503rd touchdown pass: A 6-yard pass to Breece Hall to cap the victory.
Despite a rough season and questions about his future, Rodgers continues to make his mark on NFL history. As the Jets enter a rebuilding phase, only time will tell if Rodgers will return for another season or if the team will look to move in a new direction.
