Aaron Rodgers has long been a source of frustration for the Chicago Bears.
In fact, according to Aaron Rodgers, he owns them. And the statistics, well, they very well support him. So, when word leaked on Monday that Rodgers had been traded to the New York Jets, the Bears were prepared with a message.
What’s the point? See ya. Goodbye, sir. Don’t let the door hit you in the groyne on the way out.
It’s difficult to blame them for being relieved to see Rodgers go. While the deal represents a seismic shift for both the Packers and the Jets, it also heralds the start of a new era in the NFC North, one without Rodgers dominating the Bears or the division.
Since Rodgers became Green Bay’s starting quarterback in 2008, the Packers have won the NFC North in eight of the last fifteen seasons. In three of the seven seasons in which they did not win the division, they earned a wild card berth. They are the only NFC North club to have advanced to, let alone win, the Super Bowl during that time period.
But no team in the division — or the NFL — has felt the full force of Rodgers’ prowess like Green Bay’s most bitter and long-standing opponent, Chicago. Rodgers has a winning record versus each of his former NFC North opponents. He has a 17-11-1 record versus the Minnesota Vikings. He has an 18-8 record versus the Detroit Lions.
Rodgers has a 24-5 record against the Bears. In their 29 meetings, he has thrown 64 touchdowns and only 10 interceptions while completing 67.3 percent of his passes. His passer rating of 109 against Chicago is over 5 points higher than his lifetime rating of 103.6.
During Rodgers’ tenure, Chicago had four winning seasons while only winning the division twice. Rodgers is no longer with the team. Green Bay is about to enter the Jordan Love era. In Chicago, the Justin Fields era is still in its early stages. The Bears could not be more pleased.
What about the Jets? They, too, are pleased about the transfer. Ask his next colleagues Breece Hall and Sauce Gardner.