Aaron Rodgers could well be playing his final NFL season, but the future Hall of Famer isn't done collecting milestones.
With a 10-yard completion to DK Metcalf in the fourth quarter of a 26-7 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback became just the fifth player in NFL history to eclipse 65,000 passing yards.
Rodgers entered Sunday with 64,921 yards, needing just 79 yards to hit the milestone mark, though it was an arduous task to get there against a stingy Buffalo defense. Rodgers was stymied through the air for most of the contest, and early in the second half missed a Pittsburgh possession while having a gash on his nose tended to following a big hit and fumble caused by pass rusher Joey Bosa.
"I hope it's not broken, but yeah, just had to stop the bleeding," Rodgers said postgame when asked if it had been only a cut to his nose or a break that caused him to be temporarily sidelined. "It was bleeding all over the place."
Despite not playing well offensively themselves, Rodgers and Co. went into halftime with a 7-3 lead. When the Bills turned it on in the second half, Pittsburgh failed miserably to keep up. Outside of a 57-yard drive that ended on downs, the Steelers' three other Rodgers-led possessions delivered a combined three total yards. Mason Rudolph also accounted for just three yards as Rodgers was getting looked at in the blue tent. He got a free 15 from a penalty for a net of 18, but ended his lone possession and his night on a pick before Rodgers returned.
"Disappointed in my performance, disappointed in the offense's performance," Rodgers said. "We've got to flush this one. We're 6-6, and we've got a game for the division lead this week."
Regardless of taking a beating, Rodgers eventually found room to reach rarefied air that only a collection of the league's all-time elite have risen to. He finished the contest with 117 yards on 10-of-21 passing, good for 65,038 career passing yards.
He's now locked into fifth place all time behind Tom Brady (89,214), Drew Brees (80,358), Peyton Manning (71,940) and former teammate Brett Favre (71,838).
NFL all-time passing leaders
| Player | Years | Yards |
|---|---|---|
| Tom Brady | 2000-2022 | 89,214 |
| Drew Brees | 2001-2020 | 80,358 |
| Peyton Manning | 1998-2015 | 71,940 |
| Brett Favre | 1991-2010 | 71,838 |
| Aaron Rodgers | 2005-2025 | 65,038 and counting |
So, if this is indeed Rodgers' swan song, he has added yet another milestone achieved with the Steelers. He moved into fourth all time in touchdown passes earlier in the campaign, having passed Favre, who he's forever linked with as one of just five in the 65K club.
His next opportunity to add to his career yardage total will come in Week 14 against the Ravens, with the AFC North lead on the line.
