New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers long dominated the Chicago Bears during his tenure as the Green Bay Packers starting quarterback. In 15 seasons, he compiled a record of 24-5 against Green Bay’s oldest rival, throwing 64 touchdowns and just 10 interceptions in those games. As a result, the Bears organization and its fans have developed a strong dislike for the four-time NFL MVP.
While the Jets do not play the Bears this season, Chicago players still hold onto a grudge for the way that Rodgers torched them for a decade and a half. This dislike for the future Hall of Fame quarterback was put on full display yesterday in comments made by Bears Pro Bowl cornerback Jaylon Johnson.
New York Jets Quarterback Aaron Rodgers Made the NFL Top 100 List While Chicago Bears Cornerback Jaylon Johnson Did Not
Last week, the NFL revealed its top 100 players as voted on by the players themselves. Despite not playing anything more than four snaps in Week One last year, Rodgers made the list. Johnson, who was a Second Team All-Pro cornerback last season, did not.
The Bears star defender had some choice words about his omission during a press conference on Sunday:
It’s bull—,” Johnson said, shaking his head. “There ain’t no way. I don’t know how you make Pro Bowl, All-Pro and not a top 100 guy. I could have been 101 I guess.
“I mean, Aaron Rodgers didn’t even play last year and he made the list.”
He went on to say that everybody makes mistakes and that he is not the only player that probably should have been on the list, but was not.
To be fair, Johnson does have a case. Last season, he had four interceptions (including a pick six) as well as 10 passes defended. Opposing quarterbacks had a miniscule 50.9 passer rating while completing just 55.2% of their passes when targeting him.
Did New York Jets Quarterback Aaron Rodgers Deserve to Be on the Top 100 List?
As Johnson noted, Rodgers barely played at all in 2023. However, the list was voted on by the players, so the issue the Bears cornerback has should be taken up with his peers, not the media.
In regard to whether or not Rodgers deserves to be on the list, one must really consider how he is viewed by players around the NFL, not by fans and the media. Despite the fact that he tore his Achilles and essentially missed the entire season last year, he is still viewed by his peers as being one of the elite players in the NFL.
In other words, if the players believe Rodgers is a top 100 player, then he is. At least, until he proves otherwise. The fact of the matter is that no one really knows how he will respond to his first NFL action after coming back from such a serious injury at 40 years old.
Perhaps next year Johnson will have a better case. Or maybe he won’t.
