Rodgers passes Manning on touchdown list that includes playoffs

Aaron Rodgers passed Peyton Manning for third on the NFL’s career touchdown-pass list counting regular-season and playoff games Sunday. An 80-yard connection with Jaylen Warren gave the Steelers quarterback his 580th touchdown pass on that combined list, breaking their tie at 579.

The milestone came in the first quarter of Pittsburgh’s 34-22 win over Indianapolis. Rodgers absorbed a hit while delivering a short pass to Warren, who took it down the right sideline with help from a DK Metcalf block. It was the first play of the Steelers’ second possession.

The counting method matters. Rodgers had 535 regular-season touchdown passes and 45 in the playoffs when Warren reached the end zone, NBC Sports reported. Two subsequent touchdown passes to Pat Freiermuth, in the second and fourth quarters, lifted his combined career total to 582 by the final whistle.

Pittsburgh’s updated official career statistics list Rodgers with 537 regular-season touchdown passes after the game. The NFL’s milestone report expressly includes postseason production in placing him ahead of Manning. Those are separate totals, and the combined ranking should be read with that distinction intact.

Rodgers discussed Manning’s place in his career with CBS reporter Tracy Wolfson after the win. “Anytime you’re in the same sentence as Peyton, that definitely does mean a lot to me,” he said.

Only Tom Brady, with 737, and Drew Brees, with 608, remain ahead of Rodgers on the touchdown-pass list including the postseason, according to the NFL. Manning finished with 579 on that measure.

Rodgers also reached another threshold Sunday: his 90th career game with at least three touchdown passes. The NFL lists Brady at 104, Brees at 97 and Manning at 93 in that category. It was Rodgers’ third consecutive game with three touchdown passes, his first such stretch since his 2021 MVP season.

Sources

NFL: Rodgers passes Manning, counting playoffs · Rodgers official career statistics · NBC: Rodgers’ combined touchdown milestone · CBS: Rodgers’ record-book afternoon · ESPN/AP: Steelers–Colts final, box score and plays