Aaron Rodgers Not the Only NFL Quarterback to Fail With a New Team

The New York Jets acquired former Green Bay Packers star quarterback Aaron Rodgers with one idea in mind: win a Super Bowl for the team for the first time since the 1960s.

Rodgers is a three-time NFL Most Valuable Player and seemed to be the stabilizer the Jets had needed for years under center. But Rodgers tore his Achilles Tendon just four snaps into his time with the team, missing the entire 2023 season. The Jets were supposed to compete in his second season in town, but a sub-500 start has everyone asking if the marriage between the two sides was simply doomed from the start.

This is not a unique situation, however. In fact, Rodgers is one of many NFL quarterbacks who were rock stars with their previous teams, only to struggle mightily upon jumping ship.

1. Joe Namath

Joe Namath has the most famous guarantee in all of sports history, when he told media and fans alike the underdog New York Jets would win Super Bowl III against the Baltimore Colts. Namath delivered on that, and became a New York sports hero in the process.

His 12 seasons with the Jets were memorable, albeit flawed at times. He passed for more than 27,000 yards but turned the ball over 215 times through the air in that span. Still, his legend lived on, even as he would move to the Los Angeles Rams in 1977. Namath was a shell of himself at that juncture, playing just four games before his knees gave out on him. He retired after that season with little to show for his final year in the league.

2. Donovan McNabb

If you’re looking at the shortlist for the greatest quarterbacks in Philadelphia Eagles history, you’re going to see Donovan McNabb’s name right near the top. He had them on the brink of winning a Super Bowl against the mighty New England Patriots, threw for more than 32,000 yards, and was a fan favorite. But his career didn’t end in Philly.

Instead, he was dealt to Washington in 2010 in a rare intra-division trade. McNabb had lost much of his accuracy at that point and threw 15 interceptions while finding the end zone just 14 times in his lone season at FedEx Field. He would try to resurrect his career the following season in Minnesota but was benched quickly in favor of rookie Christian Ponder.

3. Brett Favre

Brett Favre could have retired after the 2007 season as a Green Bay Packer as he initially intended, and his playing legacy would have remained largely intact. Instead, he opted to continue to play, and took quite the path post-Green Bay.

Favre ended up in the Meadowlands as a member of the New York Jets, much like his protege Rodgers would ultimately end up doing. His Jets tenure saw him start 8-3, but injuries and poor play led to the Jets missing the playoffs. He retired once more, only to unretire again and join the Minnesota Vikings. Favre played two seasons there, with his last season ending in just 13 games and his career clouded by personal scandal.

4. Matt Schaub

Matt Schaub became a strong option at quarterback for the Houston Texans after they acquired him from the Atlanta Falcons in 2007, showing promise with a big arm and plenty of athleticism to run an offense. Things were looking strong for Schaub and Houston after a 12-4 season in 2012, a year in which he’d end up in the Pro Bowl.

The wheels fell off shortly after. He set an NFL record by throwing a pick-six in four consecutive games the following season and ended up being traded to the Oakland Raiders. He lost the starting QB job in camp to Derek Carr, and he’d never be a full-time starter in the NFL again.

5. Nick Foles

Nick Foles has a career that should be studied for years to come. He made a Pro Bowl with the Eagles, then fell into obscurity before heading back to the team as a backup. Then he stepped in for an injured Carson Wentz, won a Super Bowl, and reinvented himself.

His great play during his second run with Philly earned him a massive four-year, $88 million contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2019. Foles would break his left clavicle in his first start and ultimately find himself benched for rookie Gardner Minshew. He’d be traded the following season, bounce around the league some more, and retire not long after.

6. Carson Palmer

Carson Palmer was plenty content calling it a career after the Cincinnati Bengals refused his trade request ahead of the 2011 season. He decided to retire, the team drafted Andy Dalton, and the franchise moved on. Palmer had an urge to play still though, and the former No. 1 pick was courted by the Oakland Raiders as an injury replacement.

They made a deal for him, and it didn’t work out. He played in 25 games across two seasons with Oakland, winning just eight of them. His last season there was slightly above league average, and injuries took their toll on his body. He ended up being dealt to the Arizona Cardinals in 2013 and would play five seasons there.

7. Joe Flacco

Once upon a time, we wondered whether or not Joe Flacco was actually elite. The unlikely former FCS star led the Baltimore Ravens to a Super Bowl Championship, threw more than 200 touchdowns for the franchise, and enjoyed his time in town for more than a decade.

Then the Ravens had a chance to take the highly-skilled Lamar Jackson ahead of the 2019 season. Flacco was 34, but felt he could still play at a starting quarterback level. He was sent to the Denver Broncos, but his stay in the Mile High City lasted just eight games. He injured his neck amidst mediocre play, and appeared in just seven games over the next two seasons. Flacco has managed to stick around as a backup since.

8. Sam Bradford

Sam Bradford saw injuries derail his time in St. Louis with the Rams, but he got a second lease on an NFL career with the Minnesota Vikings. He had a strong 2015 with Philadelphia, then was acquired by the Vikings for a first-round pick the following year.

Bradford excelled, completing 395 of 552 passing attempts that season, which was good for an NFL record at the time. He was the intended starter the following year but missed most of the season due to a knee injury. That didn’t stop the Arizona Cardinals from giving Bradford a two-year deal with $15 million of $20 million guaranteed. He would play just two games there before being benched and retiring.

9. Kurt Warner

The architect of “The Greatest Show on Turf,” Kurt Warner, became a St. Louis Rams legend when he led them to a Super Bowl win in 1999 and an appearance two years later. His big arm and leadership skill set made him a desirable asset, and the New York Giants made sure to sign him in 2004 once he was released by the Rams.

The idea was for Warner to carry the team while rookie Eli Manning could study from the sidelines. He was expected to be a veteran presence who could keep the ship stable for the time being, but that would end up far from the case. Warner threw just six touchdowns in nine games, tossing four picks. He would be benched for Manning and would move on to a successful run with the Arizona Cardinals afterward.