Editing Aaron Rodgers (section)

====Backup years: 2005–2007====
In {{nowrap|August 2005}}, Rodgers agreed to a reported five-year, {{nowrap|$7.7 million}} deal that included {{nowrap|$5.4 million}} in guaranteed money and had the potential to pay him as much as {{nowrap|$24.5 million}} if all incentives and escalators were met.<ref name="Sportrac Contract">{{Cite web |title=Aaron Rodgers Contract Breakdown |url=https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/green-bay-packers/aaron-rodgers-3745/transactions/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506052810/https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/green-bay-packers/aaron-rodgers-3745/transactions/ |archive-date=May 6, 2021 |access-date=November 15, 2021 |website=Spotrac.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

Rodgers spent his rookie season as the Packers' backup quarterback behind Brett Favre.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2005 Green Bay Packers Statistics & Players |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/gnb/2005.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107183417/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/gnb/2005.htm |archive-date=November 7, 2021 |access-date=December 8, 2019 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref> The Packers were 4–12 at this point and he received his first extended look in the opening preseason game against the [[San Diego Chargers]] after replacing Favre.<ref name="Chargers Vs Packers 2005 Preseason">{{Cite web |date=August 11, 2005 |title=Favre completes nine of 10 passes for 91 yards, TD |url=http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/recap?gameId=250811009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180127084112/https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap?gameId=250811009 |archive-date=January 27, 2018 |access-date=May 11, 2012 |website=[[ESPN.com]] |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> In his first NFL game, Rodgers completed two out of seven passes and was [[Quarterback sack|sacked]] twice. He continued to struggle through the preseason, before ending the preseason by converting two third downs and throwing a touchdown pass to tight end [[Ben Steele]] against the [[Tennessee Titans]].<ref name="GB Vs Tennesee">{{Cite web |date=September 1, 2005 |title=Green Bay 21, Tennessee 17 |url=http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/recap?gameId=250901010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105175854/http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/recap?gameId=250901010 |archive-date=November 5, 2013 |access-date=May 11, 2012 |website=[[ESPN.com]] |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> Once the regular season began, Rodgers saw very little action that year. He played against the [[New Orleans Saints]] in the fourth quarter of a 52–3 victory, and completed his first career pass to fullback [[Vonta Leach]] for 0 yards.<ref name="Green Bay Bio">{{Cite web |title=Aaron Rodgers |url=http://www.packers.com/team/roster/Aaron-Rodgers/fe1a862d-b24a-4123-b43e-c116b59395cc |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180526022654/http://www.packers.com/team/roster/Aaron-Rodgers/fe1a862d-b24a-4123-b43e-c116b59395cc |archive-date=May 26, 2018 |access-date=May 11, 2012 |website=Green Bay Packers}}</ref> On {{nowrap|December 19, 2005,}} Rodgers entered the game against the [[Baltimore Ravens]] at the end of the third quarter in a 48–3 loss.<ref name="Green Bay Bio" /> He completed eight of 15 passes for 65 yards and an interception.<ref name="Packers Vs. Ravens 2005">{{Cite web |date=December 20, 2005 |title=Boller outplays Favre in Ravens' rout of Packers |url=http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/recap?gameId=251219033 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023103816/http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/recap?gameId=251219033 |archive-date=October 23, 2012 |access-date=May 11, 2012 |website=[[ESPN.com]] |agency=Associated Press}}</ref>

After the Packers' losing season, head coach [[Mike Sherman]] was fired and replaced by [[Mike McCarthy]].<ref name="Packers Fire Sherman">{{Cite news |date=January 2, 2006 |title=Packers fire coach Mike Sherman |work=Yahoo! Sports |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=packerssherman |access-date=May 11, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140426105024/https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=packerssherman |archive-date=April 26, 2014}}</ref><ref name="Packers to hire 49ers">{{Cite web |last=Pasquarelli |first=Len |author-link=Len Pasquarelli |date=January 12, 2006 |title=Packers to hire 49ers' McCarthy as coach |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=2288985 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121014050433/http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2288985 |archive-date=October 14, 2012 |access-date=May 11, 2012 |website=[[ESPN.com]]}}</ref> Rodgers was then placed in McCarthy's "Quarterback school" for six hours a day several times a week.<ref name="Journal Sentinel">{{Cite web |last=Silverstein |first=Tom |date=September 7, 2008 |title=The Education of Aaron Rodgers |url=http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/32579374.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101223123643/http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/32579374.html |archive-date=December 23, 2010 |access-date=May 11, 2012 |website=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel}}</ref> This focused on working on Rodgers' motor skills such as hand-eye coordination, finger dexterity, and mechanics.<ref name="New York Times QB School">{{Cite news |last=Bishop |first=Greg |date=December 2, 2011 |title=The Education of a Quarterback |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/03/sports/football/the-education-of-the-packers-aaron-rodgers.html |url-status=live |access-date=May 11, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120501123445/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/03/sports/football/the-education-of-the-packers-aaron-rodgers.html |archive-date=May 1, 2012}}</ref> McCarthy also worked on Rodgers' release point, moving it from right beside the ear hole of his helmet to further below it, to give him a smoother release.<ref name="Aaron Rodgers Leader of The Pack">{{Cite book |last=Reischel |first=Rob |title=Aaron Rodgers: Leader of the Pack: An Intimate Portrait of a Super Bowl MVP |date=March 1, 2011 |publisher=Triumph Books |isbn=978-1-60078-645-7 |language=English}}</ref> When the 2006 preseason began, Rodgers played as the backup in all four games; he completed 22 out 38 passes for 323 yards and three touchdowns.<ref name="Green Bay Bio" /> Rodgers saw very little action during the [[2006 Green Bay Packers season|2006 season]], but did step in briefly on {{nowrap|October 2}} against the [[Philadelphia Eagles]] when Favre left the game due to injury.<ref name="Green Bay Bio" /> On {{nowrap|November 19, 2006,}} Rodgers broke his left foot while playing against the [[New England Patriots]] in a 35–0 defeat at home, filling in for an injured Favre, and Rodgers missed the remainder of the 2006 season.<ref name="Journal Sentinel" />

Following the team's season-ending victory at [[2006 Chicago Bears season|Chicago]], Favre announced that he would stay with the Packers for the [[2007 Green Bay Packers season|2007 season]], again postponing Rodgers' hopes of becoming the Packers' starting quarterback.<ref name="Favre">{{Cite web |last=Silverstein |first=Tom |date=January 7, 2007 |title=Favre leaves lasting impression |url=http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/29212859.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120908152601/http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/29212859.html |archive-date=September 8, 2012 |access-date=May 12, 2012 |website=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel}}</ref> Prior to the 2007 season, rumors surfaced about a potential trade involving Rodgers in which he would be traded to the [[Oakland Raiders]] for wide receiver [[Randy Moss]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 18, 2007 |title=Packers GM insists QB Rodgers not on trading block |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=2803272 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107040642/http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2803272 |archive-date=November 7, 2012 |access-date=December 30, 2010 |website=[[ESPN.com]]}}</ref> However, Moss was traded to the Patriots during the second day of the [[2007 NFL draft]], and Rodgers stayed in Green Bay.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pasquarelli |first=Len |date=April 29, 2007 |title=Pats acquire WR Moss from Raiders for draft pick |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft07/news/story?id=2853116 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171229132248/http://www.espn.com/nfl/draft07/news/story?id=2853116 |archive-date=December 29, 2017 |access-date=January 1, 2018 |website=[[ESPN.com]]}}</ref>

Rodgers stepped in when Favre was injured in the second quarter against the [[Dallas Cowboys]] on ''[[Thursday Night Football]]'' on {{nowrap|November 29, 2007}}.<ref name="Cowboys Versus Packers 2007">{{Cite web |date=November 30, 2007 |title=Cowboys hold off Favre-less Packers to clinch playoff berth |url=http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/recap?gameId=271129006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111035600/http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/recap?gameId=271129006 |archive-date=November 11, 2012 |access-date=May 12, 2012 |website=[[ESPN.com]] |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> Rodgers completed 18 passes for 201 yards, with no interceptions.<ref name="Cowboys Versus Packers 2007" /> He also threw his first touchdown pass but was sacked three times.<ref name="Cowboys Versus Packers 2007" /> Rodgers brought the team back from a 17-point deficit to a 3-point deficit, but the Cowboys went on to win 37–27.<ref name="Cowboys Versus Packers 2007" />