Editing Aaron Rodgers (section)

====2008: Transition to starter====
{{see also|2008 Green Bay Packers season}}
[[File:AaronRodgers.jpg|left|upright=0.85|thumb|Rodgers going down the tunnel at [[Lambeau Field]] in 2008]]
Favre's retirement announcement on {{nowrap|March 4, 2008,}} opened up the Packers' starting quarterback position to Rodgers for the [[2008 Green Bay Packers season|2008 season]]. Although Favre decided to return from retirement, he was traded to the [[New York Jets]], which meant that Rodgers would become the starter.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nickel |first=Lori |date=March 9, 2008 |title=Rodgers preparing to assume control |url=http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=726140 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081007044908/http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=726140 |archive-date=October 7, 2008 |access-date=May 12, 2012 |website=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel}}</ref>

Rodgers quickly proved that he was one of the best quarterbacks in the league by passing for 4,038 yards in his first season as a starter as well as throwing for 28 touchdowns and only 13 interceptions. As of the 2023 season, this still stands as the most interceptions he has thrown in a season.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Aaron Rodgers 2008 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/R/RodgAa00/gamelog/2008/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180313183821/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/R/RodgAa00/gamelog/2008/ |archive-date=March 13, 2018 |access-date=March 11, 2018 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref> With Rodgers making his debut as a starter, the Packers beat the [[Minnesota Vikings]] 24–19 at [[Lambeau Field]]. This marked the first time since 1992 that a quarterback other than Favre started a regular season game for the Packers. Rodgers ended the game with 178 yards passing and two touchdowns (one passing and one rushing).<ref name="Rodgers Debut">{{Cite web |last=Jenkins |first=Chris |date=September 10, 2008 |title=Solid debut frees Rodgers from post-Favre scrutiny |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/football/2008-09-10-3743073550_x.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921062040/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/football/2008-09-10-3743073550_x.htm |archive-date=September 21, 2013 |access-date=May 13, 2012 |website=USA Today |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> In just his second NFL start the following week, Rodgers was voted the [[FedEx Air & Ground NFL Players of the Week|FedEx Air award]] winner after passing for 328 yards and three touchdowns in a win against the Lions.<ref name="FedEx Air and Ground Winners Week 2 2008">{{Cite web |date=September 20, 2008 |title=FedEx Air and Ground Week 2 2008 Winners |url=http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80af20df |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090108060338/http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80af20df |archive-date=January 8, 2009 |access-date=September 20, 2008 |website=NFL Network |publisher=National Football League}}</ref>

During the fourth week of the season, Rodgers' streak of 157 consecutive pass attempts without an interception ended when he was intercepted by [[Derrick Brooks]] of the [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]]. The streak was the third-longest in franchise history behind [[Bart Starr]] (294) and Brett Favre (163).<ref name="Buccaneers">{{Cite web |date=September 29, 2008 |title=Buccaneers' defense rattles Rodgers in win over Packers |url=http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/recap?game_id=29582&displayPage=tab_recap&season=2008&week=REG4&override=true |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081001100738/http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/recap?game_id=29582&displayPage=tab_recap&season=2008&week=REG4&override=true |archive-date=October 1, 2008 |access-date=September 29, 2008 |publisher=National Football League}}</ref> Rodgers suffered a severe shoulder sprain in the game but continued to start and played well in a win against the [[Seattle Seahawks]] two weeks later.<ref name="Rodgers">{{Cite web |last=Jenkins |first=Chris |date=December 26, 2008 |title=Packers' Rodgers learns lessons from trying season |url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2008562174_apfbnpackersrodgersreflects.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150226064522/http://old.seattletimes.com/html/sports/2008562174_apfbnpackersrodgersreflects.html |archive-date=February 26, 2015 |access-date=May 13, 2012 |website=The Seattle Times}}</ref> Despite early successes, Rodgers had been unable to win a close game during the season despite seven opportunities to do so.<ref name="Rodgers" /><ref name="Bears cap unlikely rally with OT win to stay alive in playoff race">{{Cite web |date=December 23, 2008 |title=Bears cap unlikely rally with OT win to stay alive in playoff race |url=http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/recap?game_id=29767&displayPage=tab_recap&season=2008&week=REG16&override=true |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081225222724/http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/recap?game_id=29767&displayPage=tab_recap&season=2008&week=REG16&override=true |archive-date=December 25, 2008 |access-date=December 23, 2008 |publisher=National Football League |agency=Associated Press}}</ref>

On {{nowrap|October 31, 2008}}, Rodgers signed a six-year, {{nowrap|$65 million}} contract extension through the 2014 season.<ref name="Packers Sign Rodgers Through 2014">{{Cite web |date=October 31, 2008 |title=Packers sign QB Rodgers to $65M extension through 2014 |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/packers-sign-qb-rodgers-to-65m-extension-through-2014-09000d5d80c1a549 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204181536/https://www.nfl.com/news/packers-sign-qb-rodgers-to-65m-extension-through-2014-09000d5d80c1a549 |archive-date=December 4, 2020 |access-date=April 27, 2022 |publisher=National Football League |language=en-US |agency=Associated Press}}</ref><ref name="Contracts: Rodgers vs. Romo">{{Cite web |last=Silverstein |first=Tom |date=November 5, 2008 |title=Contracts: Rodgers vs. Romo |url=http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/33941369.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205152249/http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/33941369.html |archive-date=December 5, 2008 |access-date=November 6, 2008 |website=JSOnline |publisher=Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel}}</ref> In Rodgers' first full season with the team, the Packers finished with a 6–10 record and missed the playoffs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2008 Green Bay Packers Statistics & Players |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/gnb/2008.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180907044946/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/gnb/2008.htm |archive-date=September 7, 2018 |access-date=March 11, 2018 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref>