Aaron Rodgers' Season Ended With Another Beautiful Choke Job

Aaron Rodgers is hailed as one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history. He also may go down as one of the biggest chokers. Since winning the Super Bowl in 2010, Rodgers has led the Green Bay Packers to the playoffs nine times. They failed to reach the Super Bowl in any of those seasons. If that weren't bad enough, Rodgers' play has looked pedestrian in recent years. He was rendered inert against the 49ers at home last January. He's been okay this season, but far from the star he's been for years. Things finally came to a head on Sunday night in Week 18.

Everything was in front of him. The Packers had homefield advantage. Detroit had just been eliminated from the playoffs. All Rodgers had to do was win the game and he'd be back in the tournament. Once again, he looked downright shaky when it mattered. He barely cracked 200 yards passing, scored 16 points, and threw a backbreaking interception with 3:37 left in the game.

Detroit then produced some ridiculous plays including a butt catch and a hook-and-ladder to drain the clock and put the game away. Rodgers never got another chance. That interception might be the last image Packers fans have of him.

Aaron Rodgers might be done.

That seems hard to think about considering how long he's been around. Yet the warning signs of retirement have felt close since last year. His effectiveness is slowly fading. While he remains a good quarterback, his ability to carry the Packers isn't what it used to be. Even though he signed a contract extension recently, it's hard not to think he might be ready to hang it up. The team's window for another Super Bowl isn't getting wider. If anything it feels like they missed it. The 2020 season was supposed to be their time. That NFC championship loss to Tampa Bay must still haunt them even now.

While his Hall of Fame jacket is secured, Aaron Rodgers is left to wonder about what his ultimate legacy will be. For all his brilliance in the regular season, fans and experts may soon remember him for his shortcomings in big games. Imagine if he hadn't won that ring in 2010. He might be mentioned in the same breath as Dan Marino. Rather fitting since the two share so much in common. Once in a generation arm talents with insane accuracy and also complicated personalities that made them questionable leaders.