Aaron Rodgers Nears Peyton Manning as Steelers QB Chases Career Marks

Aaron Rodgers opened what he has called his final NFL season with a Pittsburgh Steelers victory, moving within one touchdown pass of Peyton Manning on the league’s career list while keeping several larger milestones in sight.

The 42-year-old quarterback completed 221 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions in Pittsburgh’s 20-13 Week 1 win over the Atlanta Falcons. His six-yard second-quarter scoring pass to tight end Pat Freiermuth left him one touchdown away from Manning for fourth place in NFL history.

Rodgers begins final-season record chase

Rodgers is in his 22nd NFL campaign and has described 2026 as his “last rodeo.” He said during training camp that he believed 2025 could have been his final year, but Mike McCarthy’s hiring and a discussion with his wife helped make another season possible.

1. In Week 3 of the 2025 season, Rodgers passed former Green Bay teammate Brett Favre for sole possession of fourth place in career touchdown passes, doing it with his 509th touchdown throw against the New England Patriots.
2. On Oct. 5, 2025, in Pittsburgh’s victory over the Minnesota Vikings in Ireland, Rodgers set the record for the most completions of at least 50 yards and became the second quarterback to record 60 or more touchdown passes against multiple franchises.
3. On Oct. 16, 2025, he overtook Ben Roethlisberger for fifth on the NFL’s all-time passing-yardage list during the second quarter of a Thursday night loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
4. Rodgers entered 2026 still pursuing more landmarks, including 300 career appearances, 70,000 passing yards and a higher position among the league’s leaders in touchdown passes and multi-touchdown games.

Rodgers had previously downplayed the significance of passing Favre, saying the accomplishment reflected career length as much as anything else. After the Ireland game last season, he likened his career to reaching the 18th hole of a golf course.

Through Week 1, Rodgers had appeared in 288 NFL games. Only Tom Brady, Favre and Drew Brees have reached 300 games as quarterbacks, with Brady at 383, Favre at 326 and Brees at 305. He also needs 3,505 passing yards to become the fifth player with 70,000.

Week 1: Steelers 20, Falcons 13

Rodgers’ numbers

Pittsburgh put the game in Rodgers’ hands early. He attempted 26 passes before halftime, his highest first-half total since a 2020 game at Minnesota while he was with the Packers. He finished with 40 attempts, compared with 21 Steelers rushing attempts.

McCarthy said after the win that he wanted greater offensive balance, but Rodgers made clear that he was comfortable with the passing volume, urging his coach to continue calling throws.

The Falcons generated consistent pressure, however. Rodgers completed three of 12 passes when pressured and was sacked twice. He also went 3-for-12 on attempts traveling at least 15 yards in the air, though several of those misses came on receiver drops.

Rodgers said he liked McCarthy’s game plan and the willingness to take vertical chances. He believed Pittsburgh was close to a much stronger statistical performance had the offense converted a few of its near-misses, while voicing support for DK Metcalf and the receiving group.

Preseason approach

Rodgers did not take a preseason snap under McCarthy. Although there were early indications that he could play, he watched two games from the sideline and another from home. With leading receivers Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. dealing with preseason injuries, McCarthy elected not to expose his veteran starter.

The decision followed recent precedent. Rodgers also sat out Pittsburgh’s 2025 preseason and did not appear in the 2024 exhibition schedule with the New York Jets after his 2023 season ended with a left Achilles injury in Week 1.

Steelers schedule ahead

Pittsburgh next travels to face the New England Patriots in Week 2. The Steelers then return home for an AFC North matchup with Cincinnati.