Packers QB Aaron Rodgers: Third MVP would ‘definitely mean a lot’
Only five players in the history of the NFL have ever won three or more NFL Most Valuable Player awards. The entire list is Peyton Manning (five), Tom Brady (three), Johnny Unitas (three), Jim Brown (three) and Brett Favre (three).
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, a two-time winner who is possibly the front runner for the MVP in 2020, is threatening to join them.
Rodgers didn’t downplay the significance of winning a third MVP.
“There’s not many guys who have won three, so that would definitely mean a lot,” Rodgers said Wednesday.
Rodgers won the MVP in 2011 and 2014. He had a “pretty good year” in 2012 but lost out to Adrian Peterson, and he received votes in 2016 after the Packers’ “run the table” stretch but couldn’t get past Matt Ryan.
His MVP resume is strong in 2020. Through 14 weeks, Rodgers leads the NFL in touchdown passes (39), passer rating (119.7), touchdown percentage (8.7) and adjusted net passing yards per attempt (9.05). The Packers are 10-3 and champions of the NFC North, and the offense ranks first in points per game (31.5) and points per drive (2.97).
Rodgers, now 37, is playing as well this season as any during his Hall of Fame career. His main competition for MVP is Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, the MVP in 2018 and another passer combining incredible stats and wins in 2020.
Rodgers might be the frontrunner entering the final three weeks, although narratives change in the NFL week to week.
“It’s nice to be back in the conversation,” Rodgers said. “It’s usually on the preseason goal list.”
Right now, Rodgers is tied with Hall of Famers Joe Montana, Steve Young and Kurt Warner as the four players with two MVPs.
If Rodgers wins another in 2020, the Packers will become the second team ever with two three-time MVPs, joining the Colts (Manning, Unitas).
So, what makes an MVP?
“I think it should live up to what it stands for as an acronym,” Rodgers said. “It’s that person who is most valuable to their team. I feel like that’s why I should be in the competition most years, and this year especially.”
