EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Playing in perhaps the final game of his NFL career, New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers added another milestone to his list of career accomplishments.
The future Hall of Famer threw his 500th career touchdown in Sunday’s season finale against the Miami Dolphins, becoming only the fifth player in NFL history to reach the plateau.
Rodgers, 41, joined Tom Brady (649), Drew Brees (571), Peyton Manning (539) and former teammate Brett Favre (508) on the 500 list.
Rodgers did it on a 5-yard pass to tight end Tyler Conklin, giving the Jets a 7-6 lead with 7:57 left in the second quarter. Conklin presented the ball to Rodgers, who took it and jogged off the field, receiving a big hug from interim coach Jeff Ulbrich.
He had been sitting on 499 for eight quarters, as the Jets’ offense sputtered through losses to the Los Angeles Rams and Buffalo Bills. A few days before facing Miami, he said, “I would be fine sleeping in my bed 20 years from now with 499, but 500 definitely looks better on paper.”
It was his 25th touchdown pass of the season.
Rodgers is undecided on whether to return for a 21st season, saying he will take time in the offseason to evaluate his options. He’s under contract for 2025, but the chances of him returning to the Jets appear unlikely.
He didn’t sound optimistic about being retained and acknowledged that he could be part of sweeping changes made by the soon-to-be-hired new regime.
Earlier this season, Rodgers became the eighth player to reach the 60,000-yard mark. He passed Matt Ryan on a 30-yard pass to Davante Adams for 7th on the list.