Rookie Starting Quarterbacks are All the Rage, but not for Packers

Several NFL teams will open week one of the 2012 season with rookies under center — Russell Wilson in Seattle, Robert Griffin III in Washington, Brandon Weeden in Cleveland, Ryan Tannehill in Miami and Andrew Luck in Indianapolis.

The Green Bay Packers will, of course, open the season with league MVP Aaron Rodgers. That got us to wondering, who was the last rookie to start at quarterback for the Packers?

The answer is Packers Hall of Famer Don Majkowski, who started five games during his rookie season in 1987.

As you might expect, his performance was uneven. Majkowski led the Packers to a 2-2-1 record in his starts, which is better than season-opening starter Randy Wright did (1-6). However, in his seven appearances, he threw for only 875 yards — an average of 125 yards per game — five touchdowns and three interceptions. Worse, his completion percentage was a lowly 43.3 percent.

Majkowski eventually broke out in his third season, after sharing starting duties with Wright in 1988, but remains the last rookie to start a game at quarterback for the Packers. His successor, Brett Favre, wasn’t with the Packers during his rookie season (he was in Atlanta). Favre’s successor, Rodgers, didn’t start a game until his fourth season.