Aaron Rodgers and Brett Favre never were the same after thinking they were too good for Packers

Aaron Rodgers is five years removed from his best days with the Green Bay Packers and now on a Pittsburgh Steelers retirement tour.

Brett Favre was recently in the news more for a blistering anti-Favre Netflix documentary than anything that the Hall of Fame quarterback ever did on the football field.

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Favre admitted he was at ‘fault’ in Green Bay

In 2026, it’s harder than ever to remember when Rodgers was universally praised as the NFL’s best QB.

That’s the same problem that Favre now faces, as both of the ex-Packers greats realize that their lives haven’t been the same since they chose to leave Green Bay behind.

“It’s over and done with. I was at fault,” said Favre, during a 2013 radio interview.

He also acknowledged that ‘both sides had a part in it,’ while discussing a messy divorce with the Packers that created years of Favre fatigue among fans and the media. 

But the fact that Favre said 13 years ago ‘I was at fault,’ was telling then and is even more of a revelation now.

Even if the ‘Fall of Favre’ documentary is one-sided, it’s impossible to watch Jenn Sterger’s tale without wondering what in the heck happened to a gunslinger from Mississippi who once had the best backstory in the NFL.

Meanwhile, the 42-year-old Rodgers followed up his return to Pittsburgh with an unexpected announcement that the 2026 campaign will be his final NFL season.

Before Week 1, the Steelers already know they’ll be shadowed all year by a glaring Rodgers spotlight.

Rodgers was on top of NFL with Packers

Rodgers won four NFL MVPs and threw 475 touchdowns with the best small-market franchise in the NFL, becoming one of the greatest QBs in league history.

Then he believed he was too good to be held back by Green Bay, and his career hasn’t been the same since.

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After failing as the New York Jets‘ franchise QB and producing an overall 6-12 record in two seasons, Rodgers took his talents to Pittsburgh.

But the future Hall of Famer acknowledged last year that he plans to retire as Packer once he plays his final NFL snap.

“I was there for 18 years,” Rodgers said.

“Regardless of when I hang it up, that’s the bulk of my career. I’ll retire a Packer and see what happens after that. I’ve got a lot of love for the organization (and) my time there.

“They asked this week is it a revenge game or whatever. What do I got to be avenging here? They made me a ton of money. I grew up there, spent some of the best years of my life there. I’ve got nothing but love for the organization.”

Both QBs will be best remembered as Packers

Favre threw 508 TDS, won three MVPs and made 11 Pro Bowls, but would still love to be a perfect Packer in 2025.

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Different worlds

Not the same after Green Bay

Aaron Rodgers with Packers: 18 seasons, 59,055 yards, 475 TDs, 147-75-1 record
Rodgers with Jets and Steelers: 3 seasons, 7,219 yards, 52 TDs, 16-18 record
Brett Favre with Packers: 16seasons, 61,655 yards, 442 TDs, 160-93 record
Favre with Jets and Vikings: 3 seasons, 10,183 yards, 66 TDs, 26-19 record

That’s impossible, now that he’s more associated with a Mississippi welfare scandal and in the middle of an eerie Netflix doc.

Rodgers overcame a perplexing draft-day slide and years of sitting behind Favre to become a Packers icon.

But now it is Jordan Love‘s time to lead Green Bay, and a 35-25 road victory over Rodgers’ Steelers on Sunday Night Football last season proved that the Packers had the better QB.

Love completed 29 of 37 passes for 360 yards and three touchdowns, while Green Bay scored 21 points in the fourth quarter.

Jordan Love showed Rodgers the future

“He (Love) showed why he’s the (successor),” Packers defender Micah Parsons said.

Love topped Rodgers in passer and QB rating last year, while Green Bay became a legit Super Bowl contender after adding Parsons on defense.

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“He (Love) was on fire,” Green Bay coach Matt LaFleur said.

“That’s why we kept wanting to throw the football.”

In a decade, Rodgers and Favre will be reunited again in the Hall of Fame — because they once were proud Packers.

Not because Favre went 17-12 with the Vikings and 9-7 with the Jets, or because Rodgers answered a 31-6 blowout home loss in the first round of the playoffs with a retirement tour.