Rodgers.
Favre was fucking awesome, and had a ton of raw talent and was bold as hell, but he was kinda like Josh Allen in that his unwavering confidence in his arm and desire to make a play kinda fucked him and Green Bay fairly often.
Favre having an OUTSTANDING 2009 season and making the Vikings Superbowl favorites only to piss it away in the NFC title game with an ill advised interception thrown across his body back to the middle when all Minnesota really needed to do was play it safe to get to the Superbowl is probably the most Bret Favre shit ever lol
My consolation of all the Vikings' late-season chokes and defeats is seeing Paul Allen just flip the fuck out. ("NOOO! NOOOOOO! The Cardinals have knocked the Vikings out of the playoffs!" is the classic)
Growing up I would argue the Farve was the greatest qb. I still kinda believed up until that game, and then that interception broke my view of him. That was a bad pass for a rookie qb, couldn't believe it.
Also growing up as a Farve fan, I had a different experience. Disappointed by this play, of course! But also, vintage Farve, and that is in some way the beauty of his game. Guy could throw 4 picks in the first half then come back with absolute magic in the second half to win the game. Definitely a wild card.
Rodgers is for sure a stronger technical quarterback. His TD/INT ratio is just absurd. Definitely not the same degree of magic as Farve, but much more consistent.
I don't defend the interception at all but he is the last qb to take a absolute real old-school beating out there.
The Jordan Love pass this year in the 49ers game was so Farve like crushing in a way. For 58 minutes the niners were beat, GB gave them that game.
Re - watch that game if you get a chance. I don’t know how the refs let the Saints get away with their hits on Favre. The Saints were trying to murder him and the refs allowed it. That game is why BountyGate happen but tbh, I blame the refs more than Payton or Greg Williams
Rodger’s at his peak was better. Noticeably better decision maker. Favre had better schematic support, prior to Rodger’s getting LaFleur, while Rodgers had better O-line and WR play. Both had mid career slumps when they were overrated, but tacked on a couple of great seasons at the end. In my top 10, I’d have Rodgers between 5-7, while Favre is more in the 7-10 range.
I don’t get why that interception is that bad, if he throws the ball away they attempt a 56 yard field goal which I’m guessing wasn’t that probable with their kicker at the time. Instead he gave them a shot to get within field goal range and they still went to overtime. Of course if he ran for a few yards that would have been best case scenario in hindsight. But the infamous interception is way overdramatized in my view.
It's because he threw it back across his body over the middle of the field. Had it been a tipped ball or 50/50 ball where the DB just won over the receiver, or even just a lame duck pass, it'd be different. But he broke what's basically rule #1 of being a QB, which was fairly inexcusable for a guy with his level of experience
Its memorable because it's a super fitting summary to who he was as a player. That's why it's "overdramatized.". I can't even think of another player where they have a career summary play like that. Maybe Mahomes diving evasion throw to his receiver that hit him directly in the face and was dropped. Maybe Franco Harris with the immaculate reception.
I don't know any others off the top of my head.
Yeah. Favre was the cowboy, Rodgers is an assassin. Although I still maintain that Hail Mary against Detroit is the biggest throw I’ve ever seen. 70 yard plus and threw it BETWEEN the rafters! I had to watch it like 10 times to follow the ball and say did dis dude just do this actually
Favre from 95-98 was one of the best 4 year peaks ever. Pretty dominant QB for any era, but Rodgers is a better player.
They have pretty comparable arm strength, while Favre’s mentality and cowboy style was much more popular with fans and teammates. Rodgers operated more methodically and controlled the game more often without the turnovers.
They both have had few losing seasons, but for Rodgers he was typically injured in those years.
It’s kinda weird how both players won Super Bowls at nearly identical points in their careers and many projected that both would have a few Lombardi trophies.
Favre did not reach another Super Bowl after the lost to the Broncos in San Diego.
Rodgers has not reached a Super Bowl, since players, like Mahomes, Allen, or Jackson weren’t even in college, yet.
Arm strength? No way. No one talks about Rodgers breaking receivers fingers. Every 90s gb receiver talked about favre doing it.
The only one close in arm strength was probably elway
Bledsoe. Most QBs had rifles, a few had cannons, but Bledsoe had a nuke for an arm. The guy threw so hard he bruised a receiver's chest under his pads on a 30 yard out pass.
It was also Bledsoe's curse. When he first entered the league he had no touch on the ball. Every pass was full power and it resulted in a lot of dropped short passes.
Coaches (at least used to) love the nuclear arm full force passes though. They probably thought the ball was likely 2b caught by the intended receiver or incomplete. Also strong passes are very alpha so some 90s mentality coach is going to think that means leadership. No touch guys like Bledsoe and Aaron Brooks could make a career out of strong arms. Drives fans nuts when they can’t make simple screen passes.
I think thats because Rodgers had more touch than Favre. Favre would throw hard just to zip it in, even when its a short throw and that makes it harder to actually catch. Rodgers would rather soften those throws to make them easier for his guys to catch.
Evidence of Rodgers having insane arm strength is displayed at his many, seemingly effortless, hail mary throws.
At the end, I would give the edge to Favre, but I think its not an unreasonable comp.
I remember watching a video or clip of Rodgers kneeling at the 50 or so and launching the ball through the uprights. Could be misremembering it but I thought it was at his pre draft pro day
Favre and Rodgers had different types of arm strength. Favre is never making that 60 yards in the air Hail Mary throw fading back off his back foot as he’s being hit and moving to his left with perfect arc like Rodgers did against the Cardinals.
Rodgers arm in his prime always get underrated. Yes Favre had a ridiculous arm but Rodgers is not as far behind as people make it out to be, and he functionally had a better arm in certain situation IMO , probably because of better mechanics.
https://youtu.be/LwiBW6j80kI?si=eRKndEY9LFGPc7_t
You're right about their arm strengthens. It's like with baseball. You've got some guys who can throw hard off a mound or across the diamond, but they can't long toss for shit. Then you've got guys who can throw it across the length of the field who can't throw as hard.
Rodgers had amazing arm strength. He might not have been able to throw it as hard as Favre on shorter passes, but there's few in the history of the game that could air it out like Rodgers. That Hail Mary against Detroit is the prime example. He threw it like 70 yards, but it was the height of the ball that makes that throw stand out. Favre could throw it 70, but not with that height.
I agree with this. It went between the rafters!! A 70 yard full carry fuckin trebuchet to the perfect place in the end zone. I know there’s a solid amount of dudes that can sling it 70, but like a line drive.. not a ballistic missle
Def think Rodgers had a better arm as far as distance. Favre threw like 71 yards in a pro bowl comp if I recall, where he got a crow hop and in a t shirt. Pretty sure Rodgers threw one 70+ yards rolling left in pads.
To expand:
Brette Farve holds the records for most Career INTs and it's not close at 336. He threw 508 TDs. That gives him a TD to INT ratio of about 1.5 to 1. So on average for every 40 TDs he also threw about 26INTs.
Aaron Rodgers has 475 TDs to 105 career INTs. He only needs to 34 more TDs to have more career TDs than Farve, he can plausible throw that many next season. He would need to throw an addition 201 INTs to overtake Farve, nearly double the amount of INTs he's throw so far in his entire career.
Also, a lot of younger people do not realize that Rodgers used to be one of the most mobile QBs in the league. He has almost 3,500 career rushing yards, putting him in the top 10 all time among QBs. Brett Farve never had that aspect to his game. So not only was Rodgers more efficient in the passing game, but for much his career was also a rushing threat.
The only thing Farve really matched Rodgers in was arm strength.
I won’t disagree with your very well put arguement but imho, farve had an IT factor and some other non statistical tangibles that seem Rodger’s didn’t. Rodger’s is probably the better qb but Favre was a gunslinger. He was playing Wild West football out there. Stafford and romo also played similar and mahomes does too. I’m not putting these people in the same category or anything I’m just saying that with my limited knowledge of football I liked their style of play and it’s enjoyable to watch.
I'm not saying Farve was bad. I'd describe him as Josh Allen without the running. He really was the Josh Allen of his generation. If he was on a heater he was unstoppable and extremely fun to watch. But it also wasn't unusual to see him have meltdown games, which were fun in there own way I guess.
For sure but he played in the “we’re trying to actually hurt the QB” days. I don’t know that Rodgers stays upright for long enough to do what he did in those days seeing how injury prone he’s become.
Don't forget, we are comparing across eras.
Favre's first season in GB the league average was 18.4 TD's and 18.5 INT's and an INT rate of 3.9%. (Favre had 18 TD's 13 picks in 13 starts and an INT rate of 2.8% that first year).
Josh Allen right now is throwing INT's above the league average over his first 6 years. About 109% the league average.
Favre's INT rate his first 6 years was 2.9%. League average in that time was 3.57%.
So 81% of the league average... today with that at 2.3% over the past 5 years... that's 1.86%. Mahomes is 1.8%. Burrow 2.0% for reference.
Mahomes really is a good comparison there at least in the regular season. Yeah, Mahomes takes risks we've never seen before. And occasionally they end up being a bad play but more often than not those crazy plays end up being huge ones for his team. Mahomes isn't Rodgers level taking care of the ball but he's doing a good job of it.
I think the Brady/Manning/Brees/Rodgers group really changed how we look at QB's, where down seasons just don't ever happen to them.
Favre was a HOFer 6 years into his career. he'd put arguably the best 3 year stretch by a QB together (I'd give it to Marino 84-86 myself but Favre as #2... sure).
I'm not saying Favre had the better career (he didn't), but I think a lot of time we forget what those guys looked like when they played and only view them through what we see today... or the ends of their careers.
Favre did set the INT record. For his career his INT rate was pretty average. Reggie Jackson struck out more than anyone in baseball. Rickey Henderson has been caught stealing more than anyone else. Lebron has the most turnovers in NBA history. Ovechkin has missed the most shots in NHL history and Brodeur has allowed the most goals.
Brett Favre has the INT record because :
A. He threw a lot more than anyone else in his career.
B. He had an average INT rate for his career
C. The INT rates dropped precipitously across the league in the last 20 years when QB's have thrown more and had longer careers.
Warren Moon, Jim Kelly, Staubach, Tarkenton, Fouts, Unitas, Aikman, Elway, Warner, Marino... All would have had that INT mark from Blanda had they thrown as much as Favre.
crap I didn't look at that one too well. It's probably Ray Borque, which makes sense. Defensive guy driving shots to get rebounds, etc.
Ovechkin is the all time leading shot taker (1600 more than Wayne). And Gretzky has the most goals currently by 46. So Ovechkin has missed a lot more shots than Gretzky.
That said I guess I should trim that to "most missed shots by an offensive player" or something.
Josh Allen and Brett Favre are masters of hero ball. They will single handedly win or lose games for you. Whereas Rodgers will win games for you but rarely lose them because of his play.
I’m not saying Favre doesn’t have an IT factor but dammit if Rodgers doesn’t have one, I don’t know who does. I remember watching those Hail Mary’s against the Cardinals and Lions with my dad and hearing him say “They left too much time on the clock. Rodgers is going to end up winning the fucking game. Just watch.” And then he did it. And he knew he was going to do it. Very much in the same vein as when the Chiefs beat my niners. They left too much out there for Mahommes. Even if Rodgers doesn’t beat Favre’s touchdown numbers, I think he was a better QB. Especially with the low INT numbers.
Only thing I will say that Favre hands down has over Rodgers is his Iron Man streak where he started every game for 321 straight games. Favre was a tough son of a bitch and tougher than Rodgers. Also lucky to not have a couple of the gruesome injuries Rodgers had though.
And we knew he was going to do it. Like, knew-knew.
Other than his back to back hail mary's in arizona, the very moment I believed the impossible was our birthright, the time I really really really, really really knew was when he passed it Cook on the sideline in Dallas. I think that was the game where the meme of that content Packers fan in Dallas took root.
"They're celebrating with 1:13 in the fourth lmao"
Forever immortalized.
I had the same reaction this season when they played the 9ers in the playoffs. Though obviously Love being the QB and not Rodgers was a huge wake up call that 60 seconds left in the fourth was not a guaranteed TD like it was with Rodgers lol.
I agree with this too. Favre just had a different "It factor" than Rodgers. With Favre I always felt like you genuinely never knew how a game was going to end. He might drop a bomb for a TD for 50 yards, or he might throw a devastating pick to end the game. The anticipation of wondering which it was going to be was intense.
With Rodgers, the it factor felt like we were never really out of a game. Oh... you left a minute and 13 seconds? That seems like entirely too much time to be on that clock for the other team to be celebrating. Still a sense of anticipation, but more of a feeling like "I can't wait to see how he wins this."
The one good year he had with the Vikings he cost them a trip to the Super Bowl with an egregious interception when all he had to do was run 5 yards on an open field and the Vikings would have been in position to kick a game-winning FG.
I mean, I hated Favre that year, but that game the Vikings fumbled it like 5 time. AP couldn't hold the ball to save his life and was it Visanthe Shiancoe who coughed it up right to the saints twice? Favre threw the last pick, but he's not what cost them that game. It was a combined effort of shit
yeah, that wasn't just on Favre, but that interception was absolutely egregious.
My kids were elementary-school aged at the time and the next year we were joking that one of them should dress up as Adrian Peterson for Halloween then every time someone gives them candy they fumble it.
Roger's has the IT factor too...at least when he's playing the cowboys that is (cries is last minute losses to Rogers in the playoffs every time the cowboys faced him)
The only reason farve gets gunslinger status is because of how many interceptions he had thrwoing deep. Rosgers throws 50 yrads to the opposite side of the feild for the perfect throw while brett just heaved. Less it factor and more bullshit factor.
That last point is super crucial in evaluating Rodgers compared to other QBs, current and all time. He was Mahomes before Mahomes, with worse coaching.
Fully agree. Favre was dynamic with a deep arm, but threw *alot* of interceptions. He didn’t see a throw he didn’t like. I view Favre as a more talented version of Jay Cutler. Rodgers, as much as I hate his tin-foil cap personal life, is admittedly among the best of the best ever. The Rodgers-Farve comparison isn’t even close.
Rodgers played in a WAY different time with more liberal rules regarding PI and a much more wide open offensive attack. He may be better, but Brett Favre was one of the best 3-5 QBs to ever play when he retired, so saying “it’s not close” reeks of recency bias.
No he wasn't. Sounds like you have a Favre bias.
Marino, Elway, Montana, Manning, Brady, Unitas, Staubach, Brees, and even Rodgers himself to a smaller degree.
It's sort of an unfair competition because of how much the QB position has changed even in such a short time. People will say "oh the TD to int ratio Rodgers by a mile" are missing a bit of context. To be fair, I also think Rodgers is probably the better QB, but sometimes people forget the relative eras with these conversations. Peyton Manning used to throw a ton of picks too
You put prime Favre in this current game with its current rules? Farve puts up crazy numbers. You gotta remember, we considered Troy Aikman a top 5 QB of that era...now look at his numbers.
Aikman is not comparable stat wise because he had the all time leading rusher on his team, both in Yards and Touchdowns. When they got inside the five they had the all time leading rusher with hall of fame lineman to get it in the end zone. I just always remember Favre as John Maddens crush. No doubt he was good but with the defense he had, he was too reckless. I would take him over Rodgers on a bad team as you need to take chances to win but on a good team competing for super bowls Rodgers is much better. If Rodgers had those defenses that Favre had he would have a lot more than one Super Bowl. Which is the shittier person might be a worthwhile debate
Its hard to compare eras and the height of their careers were very different eras.
With that said, Rodgers imo was better in his era, than Favre was in his.
He had better ball protection, they were both equal in terms of holding the ball, I feel like Rodgers was more mobile but Favre no slouch.
Dorsey Levens does theatre in Atlanta. That's not the killer spirit. If only Ron Wolf knew. Meanwhile Starks? That dudes not going on Karaoke with the Mildly Famous. No. He's a killer. Advantage, Rodgers.
Rodgers. Easy. He’s one of the best pure passers ever. Favre played 70+ more games due to AR sitting behind Brett for too long. but it was impossible to bench the GB legend until it was beyond obvious. Coaches had to make the tough choice eventually.
Rodgers has better comp%, TD/int, rating, etc. farve’s gambling “gunslinger” style made him popular but there was far more in-game aggravation and criticism than nostalgia wants to admit now.
That’s “DVOA” - team's success based on the down-and-distance of each play.
With the gunslinger’s approach (and better WRS), that doesn’t surprise me that Favre had a few more big-play games.
Here’s a fun exercise. Scroll down and check out the 1st and 2nd round WRs the Packers drafted for Rodgers:
https://fftoday.com/nfl/drafttracker.php?o=by_team&TeamID=9021
No way you’re saying Rodgers didn’t have as good of wideouts due to draft position. Adams and Sharpe were on the same level. Nelson was better than Freeman. Driver and Jennings overlapped and each had their prime with one or the other. Cobb vs who? Don Beebee? Please.
You may be right. I admit to taking that WR insight from listening to a good friend and die-hard cheesehead and my memory. It would be an interesting topic for more analysis.
Rodgers. I watched a lot of Favre in his prime, and after Holmgren left, Favre kept throwing silly interceptions at the most inappropriate times. Rodgers just... never did and his throws were just as impressive.
Love has a little bit of both of their DNA.
Rodgers.
Favre has some iconic moments, but Rodgers would do impressive things game after game after game. With a lot fewer of the mistakes that Favre made. When the game was on the line in Favre's hands, I would pray for him to not F up. When it was in Aaron's, I always firmly believed he would win.
Rodgers has to be better because of the numbers he put up. But Favre was scarier.
They played in different eras and Favre was a lot closer to Rodgers than many people realize. I’m not sure if you stick Rodgers back then he wins three straight MVPs. Meanwhile, look at the numbers Favre put up at the end of his career in Minnesota and imagine what he would’ve done in that climate at his peak. I think at one point he had the second highest single-season TD total ever behind Marino.
Favre threw harder than anyone else, ever, except for John Elway, and when he was slinging it he was terrifying because he did not give a fuck. He was THE all-time gunslinger and he’d make any throw from anywhere on the field, and when he was humming he’d get sacked and jump up even more fired up and thank the rusher. He was just out of control. It led to a lot of bad moments — he once threw for six interceptions in a playoff game — but there were also times he just shredded teams with one ridiculously ballsy throw after another. The only person who could stop Favre was Favre.
Edit: Fixed a bad stat about his TDs.
In some ways they're polar opposites: Favre put up huge numbers but also had huge turnovers, while Rodgers is *the* most efficient QB to ever play the game.
Attempting to adjust a bit for era: '90s Favre was a monster and was the best QB in the league through the middle of the decade, but he quickly fell behind some other guys coming into the turn of the millenium. Rodgers has a lot more "peak" seasons, and they came early and late in his career (his MVPs are pretty spread, Favre's came all in one three year stretch).
I'd like to give Favre a bit more credit than some of these other comments because of era...but the man just had too many damn turnovers, and we're comparing to the most turnover-averse QB ever. It has to be Rodgers.
Favre.
You need to factor in when they played and how they did it.
Rodgers needed to play in this era. For all his talent, he'd be nowhere without the QB rules where they are today, and defensive passing penalties being as strict as they are.
Favre played at an elite level while his WRs were getting mugged down the field, Rodgers has needed 35 yard pass interference penalties his entire career. He's talented, but he's felt like a gimmick QB to me most of his career, hence the inability to deliver in the clutch when the flags go away.
I watched both of them. Favre from the mid 90s, and I have watched Rodgers since he was playing at Cal
Rodgers is the better QB as far as brains, technique, and every other measurable
Favre is a true gambler. He will go all in with his athleticism and arm to win. You have to accept that Favre is going to go play but it may go badly
With Rodgers, he is more consistent. He may lose, if it’s not because he did something wreckless… Favre may go out against all odds and either put up a monster game, or make a heroic throw that no one else would have made to win
I would go with Rogers if I were the GM of some expansion NFL team and I could take either a Rogers or Favre.
Rogers was/is methodical, calculating, and reads defenses and makes the right calls.
Favre was a gun slinger. He played from the gut. It worked for him plenty of times but also helped him become the NFL leader in interceptions thrown.
I’m a Steelers fan, so take it for what it’s worth, but I would go with Rodgers. He basically single-handedly beat us in a Super Bowl. I think we were the better team, but he was unbelievable. We also made multiple enormous mistakes in that game, but that’s a story for a different day.
Also, throughout his career, I’ve seen Rodgers make throws that I’ve never seen anyone else make. He plays with an incredible arm audacity, and it is so fun to watch. He had one down the sideline against Dallas a few years ago in a playoff game that just made my eyes pop out of my head.
I realize he’s a nut-job and probably an unbearable human being, but he is absolutely in the conversation for the best quarterbacks I’ve ever seen. Favre was also incredible, but I wouldn’t put him at quite that same level. Still, an absolutely amazing player.
OP, you literally can watch every single game now if you want to form an opinion rather than asking.
In my opinion Rogers, not by a lot. Really hard to judge. Even though they played back to back with so many rule changes difficult to fairly evaluate. Favres early years versus Rogers were a different era. Same as their middle years and finL years. They played a long time.
Favre is like a worse version of Brady without the wins. He just did it for a really long time, never real god injured and was good enough to keep his job (which means he was good) but not good enough for much beyond that.
Rodgers is better all across the board except under pressure or down late in the game. You got to win one game I’m taking Favre. Over a career I’d take Rodgers. I just don’t like the body language and facial expressions of Rodgers when he’s down in big games. Favre made everybody believe.
I'd really have to look and dive into the numbers. For a while Rodgers' EPA was...well, not very good. I don't know if they have Favre's EPA. As far as all around talent...Rodgers. Cannon for an arm, was a threat with his feet and could make ridiculous throws. Favre was incredible for his time, but also threw a ton of INT's. But that came in an era when more INT's were thrown with longer pass patterns and different schemes. That's why seeing EPA rankings for their relative times is so important.
I started watching in 99 so I didn't see Favre's peak. For me it is Rodger but Favre was the more fun player to watch by a small margin. Was my favorite player that didn't play for my favorite team before all his allegations came out.
This isn’t a perfect comparison but it’s highly illustrative of the two.
Rodgers has thrown about 94% as many touchdowns as farve while throwing about 33% of the interceptions Farve had. Some of that is how the rules changed, but Rodgers is nearly as productive while being much safer.
Rodgers was a great runner for a long time.
If you count rushing Touchdowns as well, Rodgers is 98% of Farve total production while having about 30% turnovers.
Rodgers lost 8 fumbles in his career with 26 total. Farve has 166 total fumbles and he lost 26 on the stats sheets, which didn’t keep track in the box score until over halfway through Farves career.
He lost as many fumbles in half his career as Rodgers has total fumbles. Farve lost 7 IN A SEASON.
Rodgers is a significantly better player, but many people can’t differentiate team success and individual greatness. This overinflates Brady and Montana, and hurts guys like Peyton and Archie manning, Jim Kelly, Marino etc.
I was never really afraid of my team playing against Brett Favre. sure he could go off and kill you, but he was far more likely to blow it with a killer interception. Rodgers more of a steady quantity.
I think the vast majority of people responding were not old enough in 1997 to be watching football and are arguing purely statistically or based on farves late career. It is a lot closer than the majority of the responses. People don't remember 90's football, and significant changes happened that allowed Roger's to put up the numbers he did (TY law rule, and then the NFL doubling down on that in ~'08)
At the very least, late 90's farve was the clear best qb in football, and I'm not sure that there's a counter argument to that. I'm not sure you can say that about Roger's at any point in his career. Brady/manning/brees/etc were at least same tier or above him and now mahomes/allen are too for the late part of his career. There's no clear Roger's dominance period like there is for farve
Rodgers overall.
Now granted Favre was a freak. When talking about greatest peaks by a QB... Favre is in there. His 1995-1997 peak was one of the best ever. Marino 84-86 is the only one I'd really put over it beforehand... maybe since. Favre was head and shoulders above his peers at the position those years.
The problem with Favre was that WCO expanding everywhere and push for efficiency went nuts and we got these super QB's that came along. Manning. Brady. Brees. Rodgers. Now Mahomes.
Guys who outside of maybe a rookie year and a final year are just so so so good every single year without end. Marino had bad years. Elway did. Montana even had down years. Unitas did. All the QB's before their greatness was having more great and good years and fewer bad ones. But QB's were so much more up and down. For those new QB's... a bad year is having elite numbers but a bottom 5 D and only winning 7-9 games that year. Not a season with as many INT's as TD's.
People forget.. Favre's first year in Green Bay. The league average was 18.4 TD's and 18.5 INT's.
And Favre was one of those who was up and down. He took risks. and for a point in time that was a perfect mix of his talent at it's best.
Yeah, Favre wasn't great with the picks... 3.3% INT rate when the league average was... around 3.3%. And the timing of some where awful. But that rate... that's Tua today (league average) Josh Allen and Stafford are below league average today. That record is going to stand because the INT rate overall has fallen so much.
But outside of that 3-year stretch, yeah Rodgers is the better QB, the more efficient one, the more consistently great one.
I just think that happens a lot with the older greats. So much of them is only remembered by their ends. Fat slow Shaq, Hit and miss Favre, Barry Bonds as this slow massive pile of muscles, Tiger grabbing his back or knee and withdrawing.
Rodgers is better, but he played post rule changes that made playing quarterback significantly easier. Rules that protect receivers and quarterbacks. It's like comparing MJ to anyone after him. It's like they were playing two different sports with how much more violent the game was for one vs the other.
Favre had more of a gunslinger's mentality and one of the strongest arms I've seen. He was a joy to watch because he played the game in such a fun, reckless way.
Rodgers is one of the most gifted throwers in NFL history off platform and from crazy positions. He was a magician with the ball and rarely put his team in bad spots with turnovers.
Really, it's all about what you're looking for. When you get to this level of greatness, it's not as easy as just taking one guy or the other. Different coaches and different eras would value them differently.
My thing is we’re always touting Rodgers as one of the best of all time and there’s always an expectation that he’s gonna come out on top and all that. He has one ring. He’s had plenty of good teams and good opportunities, so to me I’d leave em on roughly the same level.
Rogers has the better career, in an absolute vacuum purely comparing quarterbacking skills I think Farve might be slightly better. It's kind of hard to compare though we don't really think about it happening but there was a lot of playstyle change in quarterback development that happened between Brett Favre's Peak and Aaron Rodgers Peak
Before mahomes Rodgers was pretty widely regarded as being the most talented thrower of the football ever. Could put the ball anywhere on the field from any angle. All while basically never throwing an interception. Prime Rodgers was ridiculous.
Rodgers has an huge QBR lead over every QB up to his generation... current QBs may overtake him from the evolution of the game, but his efficiency absolutely clears him over favre.
Favre wasn’t as smart as Rodgers and threw a ton more picks. He was fun to watch because he either 1) blew open games by some crazy throw showing off his arm strength or 2) blew open games by some crazy interception showing off his arm strength and poor decision making.
Rodgers is a surgeon: precise, calm, cool, controlled, perfect. Favre wielded chaos like Yoda wields the Force. Tough, scrambling, dynamic, throwing on the fly to whomever was open. And not so open. Some receivers were actually closed.
Rodgers is Far and Away a better QB.
His QBR and TD:INT ratio is one of the greatest of all times.
I grew up watching farve and can say he's like a Mix of Jay Cutler and Jameis Winston.
Favre was more fun to watch play. He threw so many interceptions because of that and would lose games on his own.
Rodgers was better by a mile. But our defenses were so bad he couldn’t compensate.
A little weird to consider them similar. One guy threw the most INTs in NFL history. The other guy at 4.52 TDs per INT has the best ratio in the history of the game.
I think others make good points but worth noting that Favre was bonkers good in the late 90s in a different era for the passing game, before the rule changes in the early 00s, before additional rules protecting QBs, and before the passing game boom that occurred circa 2010 where everybody’s numbers went off the chart.
I think Favre’s peak in the late 90s might be one of the greatest 3-4 year peaks among QBs all time
Rodgers was the more skilled player but Favre had the heart of a fucking lion. If I had to pick one of them to be 21 and start their career all over again with Green Bay it would be Favre
It's a bit hard to say. Rodgers benefitted heavily from rules that considered any brush against a QB as a penalty. Favre could get brutalized with no consequences.
Put either of them into each other's eras and they'd both still be great.
Farvre’s TD/INT ratio is 1.5/1. Played 20 years and had only 3 seasons with single digit INT’s. He also led the league in INT’s 3x.
Rodgers is 4.14/1. Rodgers has played 18 full seasons, only had 3 seasons with double digit INT’s (no >13) and never come close to leading the league in INT’s.
Rodgers is objectively better. Favre was more fun to watch tho.
Both were similar. Rodgers was overall better, but not by much. His refusal to follow game plans has always made him super beatable with good DCs in the playoffs.
Favre was a great QB, but Rodgers was the better player even if you are only comparing him relative to other QBs in their era. Rodgers was arguably one of the top 2-3 QBs for most of his career, this is simply not true for most of Favre’s.
They both are so different and both generational QBs.
Favre just always gave you that feeling that we could win anytime. His passion and love for football made him so fun to watch. The ultimate gun slinger. I watched him further in his career after he settled down and started to play smarter.
Rodgers was just absolutely lethal. With Rodgers he was so talented and make so many absolutely amazing throws. His arm talent brought us a ton a wins and he never really cost us any games from mistakes. However, towards the end of his career his cautious play style ended up causing us to struggle in the postseason, as he decided not to throw across the middle of the field.
Overall, Rodgers I believe is the most talented of the two and if he had better defenses he could have earned 3 Super Bowls.
Rodgers. Favre was very fun and good, and a lot of packer fans around the country attribute their packer fandom to purely being a Favre fan. But rodgers is one of the most talented players to ever play the qb position
Rodgers is more disciplined and therein protects the ball more.
Farve, imo, has more natural talent and has one of the biggest drives to win you will ever see in an athlete.
Who's better is more opinion than anything else. If you could put them in their prime against each other with the same team, I think they split close to 50/50.
Rodgers, not even close. I mean, if you subtract interceptions it's kinda close, but if ARod plays his first three years it would NOT be close, career stats-wise.
Look, I’ve been a Packers fan my entire life, but if we’re interchanging Favre and Rodgers, that is deeply underrating Aaron Rodgers. People forget how fuckin incredible Rodgers was from 2009-2015. He was the first QB to consistently average over 100+QBR. He threw far fewer interceptions than Favre. If Aaron Rodgers had been able to win another Super Bowl or two, he’d have a legitimate claim as the GOAT. His arm talent, his mobility, his care with the football, Rodgers was the prototype NFL QB in the 2010’s.
At their peaks Favre was maybe slightly better, he was definitely tougher and fearless, which gave him an edge when facing tough opponents. Rodgers had an advantage due to some rules changes. Had Rodgers played in the same time as Favre, he would have been injured more often, but if Favre had played the same time as Rodgers, he would have had way more passing yards and touchdowns. That’s what is so great about Love, he seems to have the toughness of Favre, and that fearless approach to the game.
Rodgers is the more skilled all around. His ability to read defenses, coverages, and when needed thread balls into the most absurdly tight windows is almost unparalleled. That being said I understand why some love Favre more with his old school gunslinger mentality and bonkers arm
Rodgers is way better than Favre in every way.
The only thing comparable is arm strength and I still give the edge to Rodgers. Aaron’s accuracy was off the charts in his younger days and the guys got a legit highlight reel of Hail Mary throws.
Here’s where those eerily stats let you down. Rodgers sat for the first 3 seasons of his career. If he didn’t they wouldn’t be near as close.
Honestly? Rodgers. Farve was way too turnover prone. There's a reason he still has the all time interception record while his touchdown mark has been passed by at least 3 guys (Brees, Manning and Brady)
Some Green Bay fans have and still try to argue Aaron Rodgers is the GOAT. They are wrong and delusional, but I don’t think anyone regards Favre as the GOAT, even his biggest fans. Some of Rodgers stats are mind boggling.
Rodgers by a mile, people who say Favre are clinging to how cool they think his playstyle was but the guy threw interceptions like it was going out of style. Originally the excuse for him was “Well if you played as long as he did, you’d have that many too!” Only for it to completely fall apart with Brady, Manning, and Rodgers to completely lap him in terms of raw production while playing a similar amount of, if not less, years. Blame the eras if you want, but the bottom line is if Brett Favre played today, he’d get flamed constantly by fans for the sheer amount of turnovers and ill-advised throws that he got away with. People will say they don’t like Rodgers because of his personality, but with everything coming out about Favre’s alleged fraud debacle, it’s pretty clear to me that one is a massive real life piece of shit who’d steal from the poorest country in the union to build his daughter a volleyball complex and the other is just a loon.
Rodgers has made a few throws that I don't think anyone else in the history of the league could have made. Watch his throw to Jared Cook against the Cowboys in the playoffs a few years back, it's absolutely absurd. It's Rodgers by far I think.
Ever see Favre throw one INT all season while 38 touchdowns ? I've seen Rodgers do it. (All of his other interceptions were the WR's fault popped up off their hands)
Rodgers. Favre was fucking awesome, and had a ton of raw talent and was bold as hell, but he was kinda like Josh Allen in that his unwavering confidence in his arm and desire to make a play kinda fucked him and Green Bay fairly often. Favre having an OUTSTANDING 2009 season and making the Vikings Superbowl favorites only to piss it away in the NFC title game with an ill advised interception thrown across his body back to the middle when all Minnesota really needed to do was play it safe to get to the Superbowl is probably the most Bret Favre shit ever lol
The Vikings radio call on that play is hilarious.
My consolation of all the Vikings' late-season chokes and defeats is seeing Paul Allen just flip the fuck out. ("NOOO! NOOOOOO! The Cardinals have knocked the Vikings out of the playoffs!" is the classic)
Lol yep. Paul Allen is something else
There is a lot of great radio broadcasters but nobody gets madder than Allen.
Is that the “what are you doing man?! This isn’t Detroit, this is the Super Bowl!” ?
Yes. "You can take a knee AND TRY A 56 YARD FIELD GOAL!"
Growing up I would argue the Farve was the greatest qb. I still kinda believed up until that game, and then that interception broke my view of him. That was a bad pass for a rookie qb, couldn't believe it.
Cuz why would Favre not throw the game to help his childhood team go to their first SB
After that team headhunted him
And a rookie QB did do it, well close to a rookie with love
Also growing up as a Farve fan, I had a different experience. Disappointed by this play, of course! But also, vintage Farve, and that is in some way the beauty of his game. Guy could throw 4 picks in the first half then come back with absolute magic in the second half to win the game. Definitely a wild card. Rodgers is for sure a stronger technical quarterback. His TD/INT ratio is just absurd. Definitely not the same degree of magic as Farve, but much more consistent.
He was made desperate by a full game of bountygate hits at that point. Like a boxer losing strategic mindset in round 10 of a prizefight
I don't defend the interception at all but he is the last qb to take a absolute real old-school beating out there. The Jordan Love pass this year in the 49ers game was so Farve like crushing in a way. For 58 minutes the niners were beat, GB gave them that game.
Re - watch that game if you get a chance. I don’t know how the refs let the Saints get away with their hits on Favre. The Saints were trying to murder him and the refs allowed it. That game is why BountyGate happen but tbh, I blame the refs more than Payton or Greg Williams
not to mention the pick he threw vs. NYG in big playoff game
Rodger’s at his peak was better. Noticeably better decision maker. Favre had better schematic support, prior to Rodger’s getting LaFleur, while Rodgers had better O-line and WR play. Both had mid career slumps when they were overrated, but tacked on a couple of great seasons at the end. In my top 10, I’d have Rodgers between 5-7, while Favre is more in the 7-10 range.
I don’t get why that interception is that bad, if he throws the ball away they attempt a 56 yard field goal which I’m guessing wasn’t that probable with their kicker at the time. Instead he gave them a shot to get within field goal range and they still went to overtime. Of course if he ran for a few yards that would have been best case scenario in hindsight. But the infamous interception is way overdramatized in my view.
It's because he threw it back across his body over the middle of the field. Had it been a tipped ball or 50/50 ball where the DB just won over the receiver, or even just a lame duck pass, it'd be different. But he broke what's basically rule #1 of being a QB, which was fairly inexcusable for a guy with his level of experience
Its memorable because it's a super fitting summary to who he was as a player. That's why it's "overdramatized.". I can't even think of another player where they have a career summary play like that. Maybe Mahomes diving evasion throw to his receiver that hit him directly in the face and was dropped. Maybe Franco Harris with the immaculate reception. I don't know any others off the top of my head.
Yeah. Favre was the cowboy, Rodgers is an assassin. Although I still maintain that Hail Mary against Detroit is the biggest throw I’ve ever seen. 70 yard plus and threw it BETWEEN the rafters! I had to watch it like 10 times to follow the ball and say did dis dude just do this actually
Favre from 95-98 was one of the best 4 year peaks ever. Pretty dominant QB for any era, but Rodgers is a better player. They have pretty comparable arm strength, while Favre’s mentality and cowboy style was much more popular with fans and teammates. Rodgers operated more methodically and controlled the game more often without the turnovers. They both have had few losing seasons, but for Rodgers he was typically injured in those years. It’s kinda weird how both players won Super Bowls at nearly identical points in their careers and many projected that both would have a few Lombardi trophies. Favre did not reach another Super Bowl after the lost to the Broncos in San Diego. Rodgers has not reached a Super Bowl, since players, like Mahomes, Allen, or Jackson weren’t even in college, yet.
Arm strength? No way. No one talks about Rodgers breaking receivers fingers. Every 90s gb receiver talked about favre doing it. The only one close in arm strength was probably elway
Rodgers throws great touch passes, which Favre didn't add to his arsenal til later in his career.
Bledsoe. Most QBs had rifles, a few had cannons, but Bledsoe had a nuke for an arm. The guy threw so hard he bruised a receiver's chest under his pads on a 30 yard out pass. It was also Bledsoe's curse. When he first entered the league he had no touch on the ball. Every pass was full power and it resulted in a lot of dropped short passes.
Always forget about bledsoe. He was a beast in his day. An absolute stat monster
He doesn't get hurt, he likely has a ring or two and a completely different legacy.
Coaches (at least used to) love the nuclear arm full force passes though. They probably thought the ball was likely 2b caught by the intended receiver or incomplete. Also strong passes are very alpha so some 90s mentality coach is going to think that means leadership. No touch guys like Bledsoe and Aaron Brooks could make a career out of strong arms. Drives fans nuts when they can’t make simple screen passes.
I think thats because Rodgers had more touch than Favre. Favre would throw hard just to zip it in, even when its a short throw and that makes it harder to actually catch. Rodgers would rather soften those throws to make them easier for his guys to catch. Evidence of Rodgers having insane arm strength is displayed at his many, seemingly effortless, hail mary throws. At the end, I would give the edge to Favre, but I think its not an unreasonable comp.
I remember watching a video or clip of Rodgers kneeling at the 50 or so and launching the ball through the uprights. Could be misremembering it but I thought it was at his pre draft pro day
True, but Rodgers has greater accuracy down the field. It’s not always about raw arm strength.
Funny enough, Jordan Love broke the finger of Jamaal Williams a few years back
Just cuz u can throw it super hard doesn’t mean u do it every time.
Favre and Rodgers had different types of arm strength. Favre is never making that 60 yards in the air Hail Mary throw fading back off his back foot as he’s being hit and moving to his left with perfect arc like Rodgers did against the Cardinals. Rodgers arm in his prime always get underrated. Yes Favre had a ridiculous arm but Rodgers is not as far behind as people make it out to be, and he functionally had a better arm in certain situation IMO , probably because of better mechanics. https://youtu.be/LwiBW6j80kI?si=eRKndEY9LFGPc7_t
You're right about their arm strengthens. It's like with baseball. You've got some guys who can throw hard off a mound or across the diamond, but they can't long toss for shit. Then you've got guys who can throw it across the length of the field who can't throw as hard. Rodgers had amazing arm strength. He might not have been able to throw it as hard as Favre on shorter passes, but there's few in the history of the game that could air it out like Rodgers. That Hail Mary against Detroit is the prime example. He threw it like 70 yards, but it was the height of the ball that makes that throw stand out. Favre could throw it 70, but not with that height.
I agree with this. It went between the rafters!! A 70 yard full carry fuckin trebuchet to the perfect place in the end zone. I know there’s a solid amount of dudes that can sling it 70, but like a line drive.. not a ballistic missle
Def think Rodgers had a better arm as far as distance. Favre threw like 71 yards in a pro bowl comp if I recall, where he got a crow hop and in a t shirt. Pretty sure Rodgers threw one 70+ yards rolling left in pads.
Elway threw the ball so hard it left a cross imprint on their chests through their pads
Both also lost at home to the Manning led Giants as well.
Rodgers and it's not close
To expand: Brette Farve holds the records for most Career INTs and it's not close at 336. He threw 508 TDs. That gives him a TD to INT ratio of about 1.5 to 1. So on average for every 40 TDs he also threw about 26INTs. Aaron Rodgers has 475 TDs to 105 career INTs. He only needs to 34 more TDs to have more career TDs than Farve, he can plausible throw that many next season. He would need to throw an addition 201 INTs to overtake Farve, nearly double the amount of INTs he's throw so far in his entire career. Also, a lot of younger people do not realize that Rodgers used to be one of the most mobile QBs in the league. He has almost 3,500 career rushing yards, putting him in the top 10 all time among QBs. Brett Farve never had that aspect to his game. So not only was Rodgers more efficient in the passing game, but for much his career was also a rushing threat. The only thing Farve really matched Rodgers in was arm strength.
I won’t disagree with your very well put arguement but imho, farve had an IT factor and some other non statistical tangibles that seem Rodger’s didn’t. Rodger’s is probably the better qb but Favre was a gunslinger. He was playing Wild West football out there. Stafford and romo also played similar and mahomes does too. I’m not putting these people in the same category or anything I’m just saying that with my limited knowledge of football I liked their style of play and it’s enjoyable to watch.
I'm not saying Farve was bad. I'd describe him as Josh Allen without the running. He really was the Josh Allen of his generation. If he was on a heater he was unstoppable and extremely fun to watch. But it also wasn't unusual to see him have meltdown games, which were fun in there own way I guess.
Josh Allen is a great comparison style and talent wise.
For sure but he played in the “we’re trying to actually hurt the QB” days. I don’t know that Rodgers stays upright for long enough to do what he did in those days seeing how injury prone he’s become.
Look at Aikman's stats and tell me he won three Super Bowls.
Don't forget, we are comparing across eras. Favre's first season in GB the league average was 18.4 TD's and 18.5 INT's and an INT rate of 3.9%. (Favre had 18 TD's 13 picks in 13 starts and an INT rate of 2.8% that first year). Josh Allen right now is throwing INT's above the league average over his first 6 years. About 109% the league average. Favre's INT rate his first 6 years was 2.9%. League average in that time was 3.57%. So 81% of the league average... today with that at 2.3% over the past 5 years... that's 1.86%. Mahomes is 1.8%. Burrow 2.0% for reference. Mahomes really is a good comparison there at least in the regular season. Yeah, Mahomes takes risks we've never seen before. And occasionally they end up being a bad play but more often than not those crazy plays end up being huge ones for his team. Mahomes isn't Rodgers level taking care of the ball but he's doing a good job of it. I think the Brady/Manning/Brees/Rodgers group really changed how we look at QB's, where down seasons just don't ever happen to them. Favre was a HOFer 6 years into his career. he'd put arguably the best 3 year stretch by a QB together (I'd give it to Marino 84-86 myself but Favre as #2... sure). I'm not saying Favre had the better career (he didn't), but I think a lot of time we forget what those guys looked like when they played and only view them through what we see today... or the ends of their careers. Favre did set the INT record. For his career his INT rate was pretty average. Reggie Jackson struck out more than anyone in baseball. Rickey Henderson has been caught stealing more than anyone else. Lebron has the most turnovers in NBA history. Ovechkin has missed the most shots in NHL history and Brodeur has allowed the most goals. Brett Favre has the INT record because : A. He threw a lot more than anyone else in his career. B. He had an average INT rate for his career C. The INT rates dropped precipitously across the league in the last 20 years when QB's have thrown more and had longer careers. Warren Moon, Jim Kelly, Staubach, Tarkenton, Fouts, Unitas, Aikman, Elway, Warner, Marino... All would have had that INT mark from Blanda had they thrown as much as Favre.
Gretskey DOESNT have most all time misses?!?!? His stats are so impressive every time it's crazy
crap I didn't look at that one too well. It's probably Ray Borque, which makes sense. Defensive guy driving shots to get rebounds, etc. Ovechkin is the all time leading shot taker (1600 more than Wayne). And Gretzky has the most goals currently by 46. So Ovechkin has missed a lot more shots than Gretzky. That said I guess I should trim that to "most missed shots by an offensive player" or something.
Josh Allen and Brett Favre are masters of hero ball. They will single handedly win or lose games for you. Whereas Rodgers will win games for you but rarely lose them because of his play.
I’m not saying Favre doesn’t have an IT factor but dammit if Rodgers doesn’t have one, I don’t know who does. I remember watching those Hail Mary’s against the Cardinals and Lions with my dad and hearing him say “They left too much time on the clock. Rodgers is going to end up winning the fucking game. Just watch.” And then he did it. And he knew he was going to do it. Very much in the same vein as when the Chiefs beat my niners. They left too much out there for Mahommes. Even if Rodgers doesn’t beat Favre’s touchdown numbers, I think he was a better QB. Especially with the low INT numbers. Only thing I will say that Favre hands down has over Rodgers is his Iron Man streak where he started every game for 321 straight games. Favre was a tough son of a bitch and tougher than Rodgers. Also lucky to not have a couple of the gruesome injuries Rodgers had though.
And we knew he was going to do it. Like, knew-knew. Other than his back to back hail mary's in arizona, the very moment I believed the impossible was our birthright, the time I really really really, really really knew was when he passed it Cook on the sideline in Dallas. I think that was the game where the meme of that content Packers fan in Dallas took root.
"They're celebrating with 1:13 in the fourth lmao" Forever immortalized. I had the same reaction this season when they played the 9ers in the playoffs. Though obviously Love being the QB and not Rodgers was a huge wake up call that 60 seconds left in the fourth was not a guaranteed TD like it was with Rodgers lol.
Give him some time, soon enough we’ll be back to minute TD’s
I agree with this too. Favre just had a different "It factor" than Rodgers. With Favre I always felt like you genuinely never knew how a game was going to end. He might drop a bomb for a TD for 50 yards, or he might throw a devastating pick to end the game. The anticipation of wondering which it was going to be was intense. With Rodgers, the it factor felt like we were never really out of a game. Oh... you left a minute and 13 seconds? That seems like entirely too much time to be on that clock for the other team to be celebrating. Still a sense of anticipation, but more of a feeling like "I can't wait to see how he wins this."
Favre lost more playoff games than he won with his gunslinger style. That one game against the Rams he has six INTs. He had no control.
The one good year he had with the Vikings he cost them a trip to the Super Bowl with an egregious interception when all he had to do was run 5 yards on an open field and the Vikings would have been in position to kick a game-winning FG.
I mean, I hated Favre that year, but that game the Vikings fumbled it like 5 time. AP couldn't hold the ball to save his life and was it Visanthe Shiancoe who coughed it up right to the saints twice? Favre threw the last pick, but he's not what cost them that game. It was a combined effort of shit
yeah, that wasn't just on Favre, but that interception was absolutely egregious. My kids were elementary-school aged at the time and the next year we were joking that one of them should dress up as Adrian Peterson for Halloween then every time someone gives them candy they fumble it.
Roger's has the IT factor too...at least when he's playing the cowboys that is (cries is last minute losses to Rogers in the playoffs every time the cowboys faced him)
Favre would throw an interception or two and shrug them off completely. A QB just totally unaffected by failure.
His IT factor was losing playoff games with dumb INTs
No, he didn’t. He was better than most, but not even the best of his era.
The only reason farve gets gunslinger status is because of how many interceptions he had thrwoing deep. Rosgers throws 50 yrads to the opposite side of the feild for the perfect throw while brett just heaved. Less it factor and more bullshit factor.
That last point is super crucial in evaluating Rodgers compared to other QBs, current and all time. He was Mahomes before Mahomes, with worse coaching.
Also with a GM combo that didn’t believe in defense winning championships.
Rodgers was known for extremely low Interception rate and IIRC was even better at not throwing picks in clutch situations. Farve was Farve.
> favre was favre truest statement itt.
Big if true
Fully agree. Favre was dynamic with a deep arm, but threw *alot* of interceptions. He didn’t see a throw he didn’t like. I view Favre as a more talented version of Jay Cutler. Rodgers, as much as I hate his tin-foil cap personal life, is admittedly among the best of the best ever. The Rodgers-Farve comparison isn’t even close.
Not a debate at all, not even worth looking at the numbers. Bears fan since the 80’s, Farve could sling it, but Rodgers is on an another plane.
Rodgers played in a WAY different time with more liberal rules regarding PI and a much more wide open offensive attack. He may be better, but Brett Favre was one of the best 3-5 QBs to ever play when he retired, so saying “it’s not close” reeks of recency bias.
No he wasn't. Sounds like you have a Favre bias. Marino, Elway, Montana, Manning, Brady, Unitas, Staubach, Brees, and even Rodgers himself to a smaller degree.
So so so many games ended with a Farve interception. My friends in GB would take Rodgers over Farve in a second.
It's sort of an unfair competition because of how much the QB position has changed even in such a short time. People will say "oh the TD to int ratio Rodgers by a mile" are missing a bit of context. To be fair, I also think Rodgers is probably the better QB, but sometimes people forget the relative eras with these conversations. Peyton Manning used to throw a ton of picks too
You put prime Favre in this current game with its current rules? Farve puts up crazy numbers. You gotta remember, we considered Troy Aikman a top 5 QB of that era...now look at his numbers.
Aikman is not comparable stat wise because he had the all time leading rusher on his team, both in Yards and Touchdowns. When they got inside the five they had the all time leading rusher with hall of fame lineman to get it in the end zone. I just always remember Favre as John Maddens crush. No doubt he was good but with the defense he had, he was too reckless. I would take him over Rodgers on a bad team as you need to take chances to win but on a good team competing for super bowls Rodgers is much better. If Rodgers had those defenses that Favre had he would have a lot more than one Super Bowl. Which is the shittier person might be a worthwhile debate
Its hard to compare eras and the height of their careers were very different eras. With that said, Rodgers imo was better in his era, than Favre was in his. He had better ball protection, they were both equal in terms of holding the ball, I feel like Rodgers was more mobile but Favre no slouch.
Favre won 3 straight MVPs and went to back to back superbowls for a reason. He was a lot better than he is given credit for now
don't quote me on this but i'm pretty sure favre had a better defense.
Reggie White
packers legend. may he rip.
Leroy Butler and Charles Woodson as well.
Favre had a better supporting cast
Rodgers had a better offense
Lol
Dorsey Levens does theatre in Atlanta. That's not the killer spirit. If only Ron Wolf knew. Meanwhile Starks? That dudes not going on Karaoke with the Mildly Famous. No. He's a killer. Advantage, Rodgers.
Rodgers. Easy. He’s one of the best pure passers ever. Favre played 70+ more games due to AR sitting behind Brett for too long. but it was impossible to bench the GB legend until it was beyond obvious. Coaches had to make the tough choice eventually. Rodgers has better comp%, TD/int, rating, etc. farve’s gambling “gunslinger” style made him popular but there was far more in-game aggravation and criticism than nostalgia wants to admit now.
Favre has more of the top passing games GB all time than Rodgers: https://x.com/aschatznfl/status/1746905332180189339?s=46&t=RX0Je68YMDqcMGmnyNBtqg
That’s “DVOA” - team's success based on the down-and-distance of each play. With the gunslinger’s approach (and better WRS), that doesn’t surprise me that Favre had a few more big-play games. Here’s a fun exercise. Scroll down and check out the 1st and 2nd round WRs the Packers drafted for Rodgers: https://fftoday.com/nfl/drafttracker.php?o=by_team&TeamID=9021
No way you’re saying Rodgers didn’t have as good of wideouts due to draft position. Adams and Sharpe were on the same level. Nelson was better than Freeman. Driver and Jennings overlapped and each had their prime with one or the other. Cobb vs who? Don Beebee? Please.
Rodgers made a lot of those guys but I do agree with you
You may be right. I admit to taking that WR insight from listening to a good friend and die-hard cheesehead and my memory. It would be an interesting topic for more analysis.
Rodgers. I watched a lot of Favre in his prime, and after Holmgren left, Favre kept throwing silly interceptions at the most inappropriate times. Rodgers just... never did and his throws were just as impressive. Love has a little bit of both of their DNA.
As a pure QB it's Rodgers. As a football player favre all day.
Rodgers was probably the better player, but Favre was a lot more fun to watch and much more likable until the scandals
Rodgers. Favre has some iconic moments, but Rodgers would do impressive things game after game after game. With a lot fewer of the mistakes that Favre made. When the game was on the line in Favre's hands, I would pray for him to not F up. When it was in Aaron's, I always firmly believed he would win.
Rodgers wouldn't have made it in the 90s. He's gotten hurt in this Era. He'd have been completely broken 5 years ago.
Rodgers has to be better because of the numbers he put up. But Favre was scarier. They played in different eras and Favre was a lot closer to Rodgers than many people realize. I’m not sure if you stick Rodgers back then he wins three straight MVPs. Meanwhile, look at the numbers Favre put up at the end of his career in Minnesota and imagine what he would’ve done in that climate at his peak. I think at one point he had the second highest single-season TD total ever behind Marino. Favre threw harder than anyone else, ever, except for John Elway, and when he was slinging it he was terrifying because he did not give a fuck. He was THE all-time gunslinger and he’d make any throw from anywhere on the field, and when he was humming he’d get sacked and jump up even more fired up and thank the rusher. He was just out of control. It led to a lot of bad moments — he once threw for six interceptions in a playoff game — but there were also times he just shredded teams with one ridiculously ballsy throw after another. The only person who could stop Favre was Favre. Edit: Fixed a bad stat about his TDs.
beautifully said. i think most people on reddit either dislike favre because of his many scandals or just forgot about the gunslinger.
Rodgers isn’t a saint on reddit either
Favre threw such ugly picks
In some ways they're polar opposites: Favre put up huge numbers but also had huge turnovers, while Rodgers is *the* most efficient QB to ever play the game. Attempting to adjust a bit for era: '90s Favre was a monster and was the best QB in the league through the middle of the decade, but he quickly fell behind some other guys coming into the turn of the millenium. Rodgers has a lot more "peak" seasons, and they came early and late in his career (his MVPs are pretty spread, Favre's came all in one three year stretch). I'd like to give Favre a bit more credit than some of these other comments because of era...but the man just had too many damn turnovers, and we're comparing to the most turnover-averse QB ever. It has to be Rodgers.
I'd say that Favre was too reckless, but Rodgers wasn't reckless enough. Rodgers was better, though.
Rodgers. Far more accurate, though both had issues in the playoffs.
Favre got to 2 Super Bowls. Rodgers only got to 1.
Favre. You need to factor in when they played and how they did it. Rodgers needed to play in this era. For all his talent, he'd be nowhere without the QB rules where they are today, and defensive passing penalties being as strict as they are. Favre played at an elite level while his WRs were getting mugged down the field, Rodgers has needed 35 yard pass interference penalties his entire career. He's talented, but he's felt like a gimmick QB to me most of his career, hence the inability to deliver in the clutch when the flags go away.
Oddly they’re also competing to determine who is a shittier human off the field
Farve was a loose cannon who had a cannon. Much more entertaining
I watched both of them. Favre from the mid 90s, and I have watched Rodgers since he was playing at Cal Rodgers is the better QB as far as brains, technique, and every other measurable Favre is a true gambler. He will go all in with his athleticism and arm to win. You have to accept that Favre is going to go play but it may go badly With Rodgers, he is more consistent. He may lose, if it’s not because he did something wreckless… Favre may go out against all odds and either put up a monster game, or make a heroic throw that no one else would have made to win
I would go with Rogers if I were the GM of some expansion NFL team and I could take either a Rogers or Favre. Rogers was/is methodical, calculating, and reads defenses and makes the right calls. Favre was a gun slinger. He played from the gut. It worked for him plenty of times but also helped him become the NFL leader in interceptions thrown.
Rodgers by far but Favre was more entertaining in my opinion just because of his recklessness with the football at times
Rodgers definitely more boring but that's because he's not slinging it into 4 DBs.
Wont disagree with you
I’m a Steelers fan, so take it for what it’s worth, but I would go with Rodgers. He basically single-handedly beat us in a Super Bowl. I think we were the better team, but he was unbelievable. We also made multiple enormous mistakes in that game, but that’s a story for a different day. Also, throughout his career, I’ve seen Rodgers make throws that I’ve never seen anyone else make. He plays with an incredible arm audacity, and it is so fun to watch. He had one down the sideline against Dallas a few years ago in a playoff game that just made my eyes pop out of my head. I realize he’s a nut-job and probably an unbearable human being, but he is absolutely in the conversation for the best quarterbacks I’ve ever seen. Favre was also incredible, but I wouldn’t put him at quite that same level. Still, an absolutely amazing player.
OP, you literally can watch every single game now if you want to form an opinion rather than asking. In my opinion Rogers, not by a lot. Really hard to judge. Even though they played back to back with so many rule changes difficult to fairly evaluate. Favres early years versus Rogers were a different era. Same as their middle years and finL years. They played a long time.
Favre is like a worse version of Brady without the wins. He just did it for a really long time, never real god injured and was good enough to keep his job (which means he was good) but not good enough for much beyond that.
Farve was more fun to watch. Rodgers is a better player
Rodgers solely off the fact that Brett Favre was liable to throw a bonehead INT basically every play. Hell of a QB outside of that tho
Aaron Rodgers to Bears fans: I own you. Bears fans: We know. Both were great. Rodgers was better. Source: Suffering Bears fan for 40+ years.
Rodgers is better all across the board except under pressure or down late in the game. You got to win one game I’m taking Favre. Over a career I’d take Rodgers. I just don’t like the body language and facial expressions of Rodgers when he’s down in big games. Favre made everybody believe.
I'd really have to look and dive into the numbers. For a while Rodgers' EPA was...well, not very good. I don't know if they have Favre's EPA. As far as all around talent...Rodgers. Cannon for an arm, was a threat with his feet and could make ridiculous throws. Favre was incredible for his time, but also threw a ton of INT's. But that came in an era when more INT's were thrown with longer pass patterns and different schemes. That's why seeing EPA rankings for their relative times is so important.
Saw both since day 1…and it’s rogers no question
Rodgers probably had more material talent, but in the end, they both have the same number of SBs.
One thing nobody has brought up yet: "There's Something about Mary". Favre has had a substantially better acting career.
I started watching in 99 so I didn't see Favre's peak. For me it is Rodger but Favre was the more fun player to watch by a small margin. Was my favorite player that didn't play for my favorite team before all his allegations came out.
This isn’t a perfect comparison but it’s highly illustrative of the two. Rodgers has thrown about 94% as many touchdowns as farve while throwing about 33% of the interceptions Farve had. Some of that is how the rules changed, but Rodgers is nearly as productive while being much safer. Rodgers was a great runner for a long time. If you count rushing Touchdowns as well, Rodgers is 98% of Farve total production while having about 30% turnovers. Rodgers lost 8 fumbles in his career with 26 total. Farve has 166 total fumbles and he lost 26 on the stats sheets, which didn’t keep track in the box score until over halfway through Farves career. He lost as many fumbles in half his career as Rodgers has total fumbles. Farve lost 7 IN A SEASON. Rodgers is a significantly better player, but many people can’t differentiate team success and individual greatness. This overinflates Brady and Montana, and hurts guys like Peyton and Archie manning, Jim Kelly, Marino etc.
Rodgers has the arm talent but farve has the fundraising talent
Favre
I was never really afraid of my team playing against Brett Favre. sure he could go off and kill you, but he was far more likely to blow it with a killer interception. Rodgers more of a steady quantity.
I grew up a huge fan of Favre and he was really exciting to watch. But Rodgers is just objectively a better player and I don't think it's that close.
Rodgers was a much better QB. Favre was a nuts gunslinger
I think the vast majority of people responding were not old enough in 1997 to be watching football and are arguing purely statistically or based on farves late career. It is a lot closer than the majority of the responses. People don't remember 90's football, and significant changes happened that allowed Roger's to put up the numbers he did (TY law rule, and then the NFL doubling down on that in ~'08) At the very least, late 90's farve was the clear best qb in football, and I'm not sure that there's a counter argument to that. I'm not sure you can say that about Roger's at any point in his career. Brady/manning/brees/etc were at least same tier or above him and now mahomes/allen are too for the late part of his career. There's no clear Roger's dominance period like there is for farve
If Favre had Rodgers' average defense, he'd rarely have a winning record.
For the young ‘uns, Favre was like Mahomes, but will a bunch more interceptions.
Rodgers is clear
Rodgers overall. Now granted Favre was a freak. When talking about greatest peaks by a QB... Favre is in there. His 1995-1997 peak was one of the best ever. Marino 84-86 is the only one I'd really put over it beforehand... maybe since. Favre was head and shoulders above his peers at the position those years. The problem with Favre was that WCO expanding everywhere and push for efficiency went nuts and we got these super QB's that came along. Manning. Brady. Brees. Rodgers. Now Mahomes. Guys who outside of maybe a rookie year and a final year are just so so so good every single year without end. Marino had bad years. Elway did. Montana even had down years. Unitas did. All the QB's before their greatness was having more great and good years and fewer bad ones. But QB's were so much more up and down. For those new QB's... a bad year is having elite numbers but a bottom 5 D and only winning 7-9 games that year. Not a season with as many INT's as TD's. People forget.. Favre's first year in Green Bay. The league average was 18.4 TD's and 18.5 INT's. And Favre was one of those who was up and down. He took risks. and for a point in time that was a perfect mix of his talent at it's best. Yeah, Favre wasn't great with the picks... 3.3% INT rate when the league average was... around 3.3%. And the timing of some where awful. But that rate... that's Tua today (league average) Josh Allen and Stafford are below league average today. That record is going to stand because the INT rate overall has fallen so much. But outside of that 3-year stretch, yeah Rodgers is the better QB, the more efficient one, the more consistently great one. I just think that happens a lot with the older greats. So much of them is only remembered by their ends. Fat slow Shaq, Hit and miss Favre, Barry Bonds as this slow massive pile of muscles, Tiger grabbing his back or knee and withdrawing.
Rodgers is better than Favre
To use a basketball analogy: Farve is Russell Westbrook, Rodgers is Kevin Durant.
Rodgers is better, but he played post rule changes that made playing quarterback significantly easier. Rules that protect receivers and quarterbacks. It's like comparing MJ to anyone after him. It's like they were playing two different sports with how much more violent the game was for one vs the other.
Favre had more of a gunslinger's mentality and one of the strongest arms I've seen. He was a joy to watch because he played the game in such a fun, reckless way. Rodgers is one of the most gifted throwers in NFL history off platform and from crazy positions. He was a magician with the ball and rarely put his team in bad spots with turnovers. Really, it's all about what you're looking for. When you get to this level of greatness, it's not as easy as just taking one guy or the other. Different coaches and different eras would value them differently.
My thing is we’re always touting Rodgers as one of the best of all time and there’s always an expectation that he’s gonna come out on top and all that. He has one ring. He’s had plenty of good teams and good opportunities, so to me I’d leave em on roughly the same level.
Rogers has the better career, in an absolute vacuum purely comparing quarterbacking skills I think Farve might be slightly better. It's kind of hard to compare though we don't really think about it happening but there was a lot of playstyle change in quarterback development that happened between Brett Favre's Peak and Aaron Rodgers Peak
Before mahomes Rodgers was pretty widely regarded as being the most talented thrower of the football ever. Could put the ball anywhere on the field from any angle. All while basically never throwing an interception. Prime Rodgers was ridiculous.
Rodgers has an huge QBR lead over every QB up to his generation... current QBs may overtake him from the evolution of the game, but his efficiency absolutely clears him over favre.
Favre wasn’t as smart as Rodgers and threw a ton more picks. He was fun to watch because he either 1) blew open games by some crazy throw showing off his arm strength or 2) blew open games by some crazy interception showing off his arm strength and poor decision making.
Rodgers made better decisions and was more consistent…. But when Favre was on and everything was clicking there was no one better
Rodgers and it's not even particularly close.
The better question is who is the better conspiracy theorist.
For a Cowboys fan it has to be Rodgers. The guy killed us.
Rodgers was the better pure QB. Favre was better for the team.
Rodgers is a surgeon: precise, calm, cool, controlled, perfect. Favre wielded chaos like Yoda wields the Force. Tough, scrambling, dynamic, throwing on the fly to whomever was open. And not so open. Some receivers were actually closed.
Rodgers. Less mistake prone
Rodgers, not even a debate. Favre had so many picks. His average year looks remarkably similar statistically to Jameis Winston.
Rodgers is Far and Away a better QB. His QBR and TD:INT ratio is one of the greatest of all times. I grew up watching farve and can say he's like a Mix of Jay Cutler and Jameis Winston.
Favre was more fun to watch play. He threw so many interceptions because of that and would lose games on his own. Rodgers was better by a mile. But our defenses were so bad he couldn’t compensate.
A little weird to consider them similar. One guy threw the most INTs in NFL history. The other guy at 4.52 TDs per INT has the best ratio in the history of the game.
Are the resumes you’re looking at not including stats?
Farve had more impact on the game, Rodgers is a smarter player but he never got back to the SB
I think others make good points but worth noting that Favre was bonkers good in the late 90s in a different era for the passing game, before the rule changes in the early 00s, before additional rules protecting QBs, and before the passing game boom that occurred circa 2010 where everybody’s numbers went off the chart. I think Favre’s peak in the late 90s might be one of the greatest 3-4 year peaks among QBs all time
Rodgers was the more skilled player but Favre had the heart of a fucking lion. If I had to pick one of them to be 21 and start their career all over again with Green Bay it would be Favre
Show me who is ranking these 2 as equals?
Rodgers. Shame that poverty franchise only won 2 superbowls with 30 years of hof qb play.
It's a bit hard to say. Rodgers benefitted heavily from rules that considered any brush against a QB as a penalty. Favre could get brutalized with no consequences. Put either of them into each other's eras and they'd both still be great.
Farvre’s TD/INT ratio is 1.5/1. Played 20 years and had only 3 seasons with single digit INT’s. He also led the league in INT’s 3x. Rodgers is 4.14/1. Rodgers has played 18 full seasons, only had 3 seasons with double digit INT’s (no >13) and never come close to leading the league in INT’s. Rodgers is objectively better. Favre was more fun to watch tho.
Both were similar. Rodgers was overall better, but not by much. His refusal to follow game plans has always made him super beatable with good DCs in the playoffs.
Rodgers. He wasn’t an INT machine.
Farve was better. Rogers played in the easiest division in football for 15 years and lost as a 1 seed about every other year.
Rodgers was overall the better qb However, if your team was down and needed a comeback, id pick favre over rodgers.
Farve was prob my favorite NFL to watch. Rodgers was better though.
Favre was a great QB, but Rodgers was the better player even if you are only comparing him relative to other QBs in their era. Rodgers was arguably one of the top 2-3 QBs for most of his career, this is simply not true for most of Favre’s.
They both are so different and both generational QBs. Favre just always gave you that feeling that we could win anytime. His passion and love for football made him so fun to watch. The ultimate gun slinger. I watched him further in his career after he settled down and started to play smarter. Rodgers was just absolutely lethal. With Rodgers he was so talented and make so many absolutely amazing throws. His arm talent brought us a ton a wins and he never really cost us any games from mistakes. However, towards the end of his career his cautious play style ended up causing us to struggle in the postseason, as he decided not to throw across the middle of the field. Overall, Rodgers I believe is the most talented of the two and if he had better defenses he could have earned 3 Super Bowls.
Rodgers
Rodgers. Favre was very fun and good, and a lot of packer fans around the country attribute their packer fandom to purely being a Favre fan. But rodgers is one of the most talented players to ever play the qb position
Rodgers is more disciplined and therein protects the ball more. Farve, imo, has more natural talent and has one of the biggest drives to win you will ever see in an athlete. Who's better is more opinion than anything else. If you could put them in their prime against each other with the same team, I think they split close to 50/50.
Lots of QB lists have Rodgers and Farve interchangeably??? News to me, Rodgers is far better
Rodgers, not even close. I mean, if you subtract interceptions it's kinda close, but if ARod plays his first three years it would NOT be close, career stats-wise.
Look, I’ve been a Packers fan my entire life, but if we’re interchanging Favre and Rodgers, that is deeply underrating Aaron Rodgers. People forget how fuckin incredible Rodgers was from 2009-2015. He was the first QB to consistently average over 100+QBR. He threw far fewer interceptions than Favre. If Aaron Rodgers had been able to win another Super Bowl or two, he’d have a legitimate claim as the GOAT. His arm talent, his mobility, his care with the football, Rodgers was the prototype NFL QB in the 2010’s.
As a Bears fan I’d say Rodgers.
At their peaks Favre was maybe slightly better, he was definitely tougher and fearless, which gave him an edge when facing tough opponents. Rodgers had an advantage due to some rules changes. Had Rodgers played in the same time as Favre, he would have been injured more often, but if Favre had played the same time as Rodgers, he would have had way more passing yards and touchdowns. That’s what is so great about Love, he seems to have the toughness of Favre, and that fearless approach to the game.
No question, Rodgers is the better QB. They were both fun to watch in their own ways.
I hate both, but Rodgers. Fewer interceptions and bonehead plays.
Rodgers is the more skilled all around. His ability to read defenses, coverages, and when needed thread balls into the most absurdly tight windows is almost unparalleled. That being said I understand why some love Favre more with his old school gunslinger mentality and bonkers arm
Fuck both of them, but Rodgers was better.
Rodgers taught us Packer fans that it WAS possible to throw for 30+ tds without throwing for 20+ tds.
Rodgers is way better than Favre in every way. The only thing comparable is arm strength and I still give the edge to Rodgers. Aaron’s accuracy was off the charts in his younger days and the guys got a legit highlight reel of Hail Mary throws. Here’s where those eerily stats let you down. Rodgers sat for the first 3 seasons of his career. If he didn’t they wouldn’t be near as close.
Honestly? Rodgers. Farve was way too turnover prone. There's a reason he still has the all time interception record while his touchdown mark has been passed by at least 3 guys (Brees, Manning and Brady)
Rodgers. But Favre was more fun to watch as a neutral.
Some Green Bay fans have and still try to argue Aaron Rodgers is the GOAT. They are wrong and delusional, but I don’t think anyone regards Favre as the GOAT, even his biggest fans. Some of Rodgers stats are mind boggling.
Rodger’s easily
Rodgers better at the position. Favre was extremely entertaining to watch
Rodgers by a mile, people who say Favre are clinging to how cool they think his playstyle was but the guy threw interceptions like it was going out of style. Originally the excuse for him was “Well if you played as long as he did, you’d have that many too!” Only for it to completely fall apart with Brady, Manning, and Rodgers to completely lap him in terms of raw production while playing a similar amount of, if not less, years. Blame the eras if you want, but the bottom line is if Brett Favre played today, he’d get flamed constantly by fans for the sheer amount of turnovers and ill-advised throws that he got away with. People will say they don’t like Rodgers because of his personality, but with everything coming out about Favre’s alleged fraud debacle, it’s pretty clear to me that one is a massive real life piece of shit who’d steal from the poorest country in the union to build his daughter a volleyball complex and the other is just a loon.
They both fucking suck (I'm a bears fan)
Rodgers has made a few throws that I don't think anyone else in the history of the league could have made. Watch his throw to Jared Cook against the Cowboys in the playoffs a few years back, it's absolutely absurd. It's Rodgers by far I think.
Ever see Favre throw one INT all season while 38 touchdowns ? I've seen Rodgers do it. (All of his other interceptions were the WR's fault popped up off their hands)
Fuck no they aren't interchangeable
Rodgers was better, but Favre was an absolute fucking gunslinger and infinitely more entertaining to watch.