Patrick Mahomes and Aaron Rodgers
One is the face of the NFL’s modern era, a three time Super Bowl champion who makes impossible throws look routine. The other is a four time MVP with one of the prettiest deep balls in football history, now playing his final season. Patrick Mahomes and Aaron Rodgers are both famous for arm talent, creativity, and big moments.
Their careers have crossed in surprising ways. When their teams met in 2019 and 2021, one of them was always missing. Mahomes was injured for the 2019 game, and Rodgers was out with COVID-19 in 2021. The two did face off on a golf course in 2022, when Rodgers and Tom Brady beat Mahomes and Josh Allen in Capital One’s The Match.
This profile compares Patrick Mahomes and Aaron Rodgers across their ages, education, career timelines, awards, and 2026 seasons.
Patrick Mahomes and Aaron Rodgers at a Glance
| Patrick Mahomes | Aaron Rodgers | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Patrick Lavon Mahomes II | Aaron Charles Rodgers |
| Born | September 17, 1995 | December 2, 1983 |
| Age (October 2026) | 31 | 42 |
| Birthplace | Tyler, Texas, USA | Chico, California, USA |
| College | Texas Tech | Butte College, then California (Cal) |
| Drafted | 2017, 10th overall, Kansas City | 2005, 24th overall, Green Bay |
| NFL MVPs | 2 (2018, 2022) | 4 (2011, 2014, 2020, 2021) |
| Super Bowl wins | 3 | 1 |
| 2026 team | Kansas City Chiefs | Pittsburgh Steelers |
Early Life and Education
Patrick Mahomes and Aaron Rodgers both had to prove doubters wrong on their way up.
Patrick Mahomes
Patrick Mahomes was born in Tyler, Texas, in 1995. His father, Pat Mahomes, was a Major League Baseball pitcher, so Patrick grew up around pro athletes. He starred in football, baseball, and basketball at Whitehouse High School.
He went to Texas Tech, where he played quarterback and briefly pitched for the baseball team. He put up huge passing numbers and left after his junior season for the 2017 NFL Draft. He was also drafted by the Detroit Tigers out of high school but chose football.
Aaron Rodgers
Aaron Rodgers was born in Chico, California, in 1983. He was a good high school quarterback at Pleasant Valley High School, but he was small at the time and got no major college scholarship offers.
He spent a year at Butte College, a community college, where a California coach spotted him. He transferred to Cal and became a star. In the 2005 NFL Draft, he was expected to go first overall, but he slid to 24th, where Green Bay picked him. That long wait in the green room became a famous part of his story.
Career Timeline
Patrick Mahomes’s Career
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 2017 | Drafted 10th overall; sits behind Alex Smith as a rookie |
| 2018 | Throws 50 touchdowns and wins NFL MVP |
| 2020 | Wins Super Bowl LIV; signs a 10 year extension worth up to $450 million |
| 2021 | Loses Super Bowl LV to Tampa Bay |
| 2022 | Wins his second MVP |
| 2023 | Wins Super Bowl LVII |
| 2024 | Wins Super Bowl LVIII |
| 2025 | Loses Super Bowl LIX to Philadelphia; tears his ACL in December |
| 2026 | Returns for Week 1; Chiefs start 5 and 0 |
Aaron Rodgers’s Career
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 2005 | Drafted 24th overall by Green Bay; backs up Brett Favre |
| 2008 | Becomes the Packers’ starter |
| 2011 | Wins Super Bowl XLV and Super Bowl MVP |
| 2011 | Wins his first NFL MVP |
| 2014 | Wins his second MVP |
| 2020 | Wins his third MVP |
| 2021 | Wins his fourth MVP |
| 2023 | Traded to the New York Jets; tears his Achilles four plays into his debut |
| 2024 | Returns for a full season with the Jets |
| 2025 | Signs with the Steelers and goes 10 and 6 as a starter |
| 2026 | Returns for one final season, saying “This is it” |
Playing Styles Compared
Mahomes is a creative improviser. He throws no look passes, sidearm passes, and off balance passes while running. He extends plays and finds receivers late. He’s at his best when the game is on the line.
Rodgers is a precision passer. He’s known for one of the quickest releases ever, a beautiful deep ball, and very few interceptions. He also changed many plays at the line of scrimmage with his football IQ. His “Hail Mary” throws are famous.
| Trait | Patrick Mahomes | Aaron Rodgers |
|---|---|---|
| Signature throw | No look and sidearm passes | Deep ball and Hail Mary |
| Strength | Improvising under pressure | Accuracy and ball security |
| Big game record | Three Super Bowl wins in five seasons | One Super Bowl win |
| Leadership | Upbeat, team first | Cerebral, demanding |
| Legacy focus | Chasing Tom Brady’s ring count | MVP awards and passing records |
Awards and Records
Patrick Mahomes has won three Super Bowls and three Super Bowl MVP awards. He has two NFL MVPs. He has led the Chiefs to five Super Bowl appearances.
Aaron Rodgers has won four NFL MVP awards, one of the highest totals in history. He holds the best touchdown to interception ratio in NFL history. He won Super Bowl XLV and its MVP award after the 2010 season.
Contracts and Business
Patrick Mahomes signed a deal worth up to $450 million in 2020. He has endorsements with brands like Adidas, State Farm, and Oakley. He’s also part owner of the Kansas City Royals, Sporting Kansas City, and the Kansas City Current.
Aaron Rodgers earned hundreds of millions of dollars over his career. He was once a part owner of the Milwaukee Bucks. In 2026, he re-signed with the Steelers on a one year deal reportedly worth up to $25 million.
Personal Lives
Patrick Mahomes married his high school sweetheart, Brittany Matthews, in 2022. They have three children.
Aaron Rodgers has been known for keeping his private life private. He has been linked to several high profile partners over the years. In 2025, he revealed he had married a woman named Brittani in a private ceremony. He is also known for his interest in spirituality, philosophy, and unusual health practices, which often makes headlines.
Where Are They Now in 2026?
Patrick Mahomes tore his ACL in December 2025 and worked to be ready for Week 1. The Chiefs opened the 2026 season 5 and 0, with wins over Denver, Indianapolis, Miami, Las Vegas, and the Los Angeles Chargers. He is 31.
Aaron Rodgers is playing his final NFL season with Pittsburgh. In May 2026, he said, “Yes. This is it,” and credited new head coach Mike McCarthy, his old coach from Green Bay, as a big reason he returned. Through late October, the Steelers are 5 and 2, including an overtime comeback win over Tampa Bay and a 16 to 10 win in New Orleans on October 25. He is 42.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have Patrick Mahomes and Aaron Rodgers ever faced each other? Their teams met in 2019 and 2021, but Mahomes missed the 2019 game with a knee injury and Rodgers missed the 2021 game with COVID-19. They did face off in a 2022 golf match, which Rodgers and Tom Brady won.
Who has more MVPs? Aaron Rodgers, with four. Mahomes has two.
Who has more Super Bowl wins? Patrick Mahomes, with three. Rodgers has one.
Is Aaron Rodgers retiring? Yes. He said 2026 will be his final season.
Fun Facts
- Patrick Mahomes and Aaron Rodgers were both overlooked at some point: Rodgers got no major college offers, and Mahomes was the second quarterback taken in his draft.
- Rodgers guest hosted the TV game show Jeopardy! in 2021 after the death of Alex Trebek.
- Mahomes is known for his raspy voice and ketchup on his steak.
- Rodgers’s Hail Mary throws against Detroit and Arizona are among the most famous in NFL history.
What’s Next
Rodgers will retire after this season, so every game is a farewell. Mahomes is aiming for a fourth Super Bowl ring and a long future in Kansas City. If the Chiefs and Steelers meet in the playoffs, fans could finally see the two face off as starters. Either way, Rodgers is expected to land in the Hall of Fame soon after he retires, and Mahomes is already on a Hall of Fame path.
Why People Compare Them
Patrick Mahomes and Aaron Rodgers are two of the most talented quarterbacks of all time. Rodgers set the standard for accuracy and smart play in the 2010s. Mahomes took over as the league’s top star in the 2020s. As Rodgers plays his final season, fans are debating where Patrick Mahomes and Aaron Rodgers rank among the greatest ever.
Key Takeaways
- Patrick Mahomes and Aaron Rodgers have never truly faced each other as starters, because of injury in 2019 and COVID-19 in 2021.
- Patrick Mahomes was born September 17, 1995, in Tyler, Texas, and is 31. He played college football at Texas Tech.
- Aaron Rodgers was born December 2, 1983, in Chico, California, and is 42. He went from Butte College to Cal.
- Mahomes has three Super Bowl wins and two MVPs. Rodgers has one Super Bowl win and four MVPs.
- Rodgers holds the best touchdown to interception ratio in NFL history.
- In 2026, Mahomes returned from an ACL tear and the Chiefs started 5 and 0, while Rodgers is playing his final season with the 5 and 2 Steelers.
