Texans’ C.J. Stroud Says He Would Take Eli Manning’s NFL Career over Aaron Rodgers

New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers is a four-time NFL MVP and regarded as one of the best passers of his generation, but his failure to win more than one Super Bowl separates him from the all-time greats in some eyes.

During an appearance on the MILLION DOLLAZ WORTH OF GAME podcast, Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud was asked if he’d prefer to have a career similar to Rodgers or two-time Super Bowl champion Eli Manning. For Stroud, the decision was easy.

“You want the rings, dog. … Eli got two,” Stroud said around the 1:20:00 mark.

Rodgers led the Green Bay Packers to victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLV. The 2010 season was the first and last time he reached the Super Bowl in his career.

Despite Rodgers’ lack of championship success, Stroud still argued that he should be considered an all-time great. Rodgers’ 103.6 career passer rating ranks first in NFL history and he also owns the record for best touchdown-to-interception ratio (475 to 105). While he has struggled to reach the Big Game, he ranks second all-time in postseason passing touchdowns (45) and fourth in postseason passing yards (5,894).

Stroud appears to be on a trajectory to match Rodgers’ accolades sooner than later. The reigning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year is coming off a stellar 2023 campaign, and the Texans reloaded with new additions in the offseason that have them entering 2024 among the favorites to reach the Super Bowl.

Rodgers and the Jets will be trying to stand in the way of Stroud and the Texans, as the 40-year-old is back from a torn Achilles that cost him virtually the entire 2023 season. Houston will visit New York in Week 9 of the 2024 campaign, so Stroud will have the opportunity to duel against a quarterback he’s looked up to in his young career.