For many, the Tom Brady-Aaron Rodgers debate is settled. At the end of the day, you can’t reconcile a six-ring deficit.
However, if you look at both legends in a vacuum and try to determine which was more talented, you’d be hard-pressed to choose against Rodgers — and Bill Belichick would be right there with you.
Author Ian O’Connor recently spoke with Pro Football Network ahead of the release of his new book, “Out of the Darkness: The Mystery of Aaron Rodgers.” O’Connor touched on a variety of topics, including the Brady-Rodgers debate and how the comparisons motivated both quarterbacks.
Did Bill Belichick Believe Tom Brady was Better Than Aaron Rodgers?
Last year, there was a seemingly bogus rumor about Rodgers vetoing a trade to the New England Patriots. O’Connor said he didn’t know whether the rumor was true, but he did offer insight into how Belichick felt about Rodgers.
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“I do know that Belichick and Rodgers have a tremendous relationship and a tremendous amount of respect for each other,” O’Connor told PFN. “And people in the Patriots organization have told me that Belichick looked at Rodgers’ talent compared to Brady and thought it was not comparable.
“Aaron was clearly the better player, but Tom was the better winner. Tom had the better system in place, better coaching.”
There's a lot of Tom Brady-Aaron Rodgers stuff in @Ian_OConnor's forthcoming book on Rodgers. Jermichael Finely and Ryan Grant among those who believe the debate isn't close.
Finley: "He was better than Brady all day."
Grant: "Me and [Finley] always talked about how crazy A-Rod…
— Dakota Randall (@DakRandall) August 14, 2024
Some Patriots fans might bristle at the notion of Rodgers being better than Brady, but Brady himself apparently believed the debate wasn’t close.
“He knew people thought Aaron was the more talented player,” O’Connor said. “Brady told an NFL head coach, ‘If Aaron Rodgers was in my system with these coaches, he’d throw for 7,000 yards every year.’
“I wrote that for ESPN some years ago. And I know exactly where he was when he said it, the day he said it, and, obviously, to the head coach he said it to. (Brady) later sort of semi-denied it.”
Rodgers, like Brady, was and remains aware of the comparisons, which still fuel the future Hall of Famer.
How Chasing Brady Motivated Rodgers — And Still Does
Brady and the Patriots are mentioned dozens of times in the book, which is now available. In fact, it could be considered a must-read for Patriots diehards.
Throughout his book, O’Connor paints a fascinating portrait of a generational quarterback desperate to match the success of his championship-rich counterpart.
“Until he found that second calling, Rodgers wanted to preside over the league’s next dynasty,” O’Connor wrote of Rodgers’ mindset after winning his first Super Bowl title (Page 176). “He wanted to do with the Packers what Tom Brady had already done with the Patriots from 2001 to 2004 — win three out of four. Or something to that effect.”
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And then there’s this Page 188 excerpt, which describes Rodgers’ mentality while receiving his first MVP trophy in 2011:
“It was a glorious night, yet Rodgers would have traded a hundred of these nights for Eli Manning’s spot opposite Tom Brady (in Super Bowl Super Bowl XLVI),” O’Connor wrote. “As much as he coveted the MVP distinction, Rodgers knew he would be judged by his number of Super Bowl rings.”
.@Ian_OConnor on the impact on Rodgers legacy if he is able to win a Super Bowl with the Jets. pic.twitter.com/KFqkkfZNMj
— Jim Rome (@jimrome) August 21, 2024
While speaking with PFN, O’Connor discussed how the Brady comparisons motivated an envious Rodgers behind the scenes — and even impacted his on-field performance.
“That was a motivating factor, without question,” O’Connor said. “And he knew, for all the league MVPs he was winning — and he won more than Tom Brady — that ultimately you’re judged on championship rings. And I do think he felt that Brady had the much better support system.
” … I also think there’s an intangible quality that Brady had that maybe Rodgers didn’t. And these postseason games later in his career — didn’t seem like he was the same fearless quarterback he was (early in his career). … Later in his career, it almost seemed like the scar tissue from bitter postseason losses, from being compared constantly to a guy who ultimately won seven rings, that added up over time.
“And I think that might’ve had an effect on his style of play, where he was concerned about being the reason his team might lose.”
Rodgers, who’ll turn 41 in December, has no chance of matching Brady’s Super Bowl championships. And we still don’t know how he’ll look after missing all of 2023 with a torn Achilles.
But Rodgers certainly would change his career narrative — and many opinions on the Brady debate — if he leads the New York Jets to a title this season.