MVP Profile: Aaron Rodgers, 2011

Quarterback, Green Bay Packers

Age:  28 (Dec. 2)

7^th season in pro football & with Packers

College: California

Height: 6’2”   Weight: 225

Prelude:

Rodgers was chosen by the Packers in the first round of the 2005 NFL draft (24^th overall) and backed up veteran QB Brett Favre for three seasons before inheriting the starting job. He performed well in the unenviable role of following a legendary performer in 2008, throwing for 4038 yards and 28 touchdowns against 13 interceptions. In ’09 he showed improvement, tying for the league lead in lowest interception percentage (1.3) while passing for 4434 yards and 30 TDs and showing impressive mobility as he rushed for 316 yards. The Packers reached the postseason and Rodgers was selected to the Pro Bowl. In 2010, the Packers started off slowly and Rodgers sustained two concussions, but he and the team played well down the stretch, qualified for a Wild Card playoff spot, and achieved a NFL Championship with a win over the Steelers in the Super Bowl.

2011 Season Summary

Appeared and started in 15 of 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Passing

Attempts – 502 [16]

Most attempts, game – 46 at NY Giants 12/4

Completions – 343 [10]

Most completions, game – 29 vs. Denver 10/2

Yards – 4643 [5]

Most yards, game – 408 vs. Denver 10/2

Completion percentage – 68.3 [2]

Yards per attempt – 9.2 [1]

TD passes – 45 [2]

Most TD passes, game – 5 vs. Chicago 12/25

Interceptions – 6

Most interceptions, game – 1 on six occasions

Passer rating – 122.5 [1]

400-yard passing games – 1

300-yard passing games – 8

200-yard passing games – 15

Passer rating of 122.5 set NFL record

Rushing

Attempts – 60

Most attempts, game - 9 (for 36 yds.) vs. Denver 10/2

Yards – 257

Most yards, game – 52 yards (on 8 carries) at San Diego 11/6

Yards per attempt – 4.3

TDs – 3

Scoring

TDs – 3

Points - 18

Postseason: 1 G (NFC Divisional playoff vs. NY Giants)

Pass attempts – 46

Pass completions – 26

Passing yardage – 264

TD passes – 2

Interceptions – 1

Rushing attempts – 7

Rushing yards – 66

Average gain rushing – 9.4

Rushing TDs – 0

Awards & Honors:

NFL MVP: AP, PFWA, Bert Bell Award, Sporting News

1^st team All-NFL: AP, PFWA, Pro Football Focus, Sporting News

Pro Bowl

Packers went 15-1 to finish first in the NFC North with the conference’s best record while leading the NFL in scoring (560 points) and touchdowns (70). Lost NFC Divisional playoff to New York Giants (37-20).

Aftermath:

Rodgers had another Pro Bowl season in 2012, leading the league in passing for the second straight year (108.0 rating) while throwing for 4295 yards and 39 touchdowns against just 8 interceptions. Through eight seasons (five as a full-time starting quarterback), Rodgers has a passer rating of 104.9 – the highest for a NFL player with at least 1500 pass attempts - and has been selected to the Pro Bowl three times.

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MVP Profiles feature players who were named MVP or Player of the Year in the NFL, AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974), or USFL (1983-85) by a recognized organization (Associated Press, Pro Football Writers Association, Newspaper Enterprise Association, United Press International, The Sporting News, Maxwell Club – Bert Bell Award, or the league itself).