Aaron Rodgers Overtakes Peyton Manning for Third on All-Time Passing Touchdown List in Paris

The record-breaking moment unfolded with 6:45 remaining in the first half at the Stade de France. Facing a critical red-zone possession, Aaron Rodgers connected with 6-foot-7 tight end Darnell Washington on a four-yard strike, as the 265-pound target outmuscled Saints cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry in the end zone.[1]

That sequence gave the Pittsburgh Steelers a 10-3 advantage and marked the first NFL touchdown ever scored on French soil. More importantly, it represented the 540th regular-season passing touchdown of Rodgers' career, officially moving him past Peyton Manning for third place on the all-time list.[1][3]

Only Tom Brady and Drew Brees now sit ahead of the 42-year-old quarterback. Rodgers finished the afternoon completing 19 of 30 pass attempts for 212 yards, guiding Pittsburgh to a 16-10 victory over the New Orleans Saints and improving their 2026 campaign record to 5-2.[4]

A crowd of 78,488 attended the landmark international fixture in Saint-Denis, just north of Paris. The atmosphere remained vibrant despite recent civil unrest in the French capital, with Rodgers praising the pre-game rendition of the national anthem as gorgeous. The NFL France broadcast celebrated the historic touchdown pass as "quel caviar d'Aaron Rodgers."[3][4]

Ground Control and Defense

While the passing milestone dominated the afternoon, Pittsburgh's rushing attack and defensive pressure dictated the game's tempo. Running back Jaylen Warren powered the offense with 101 yards on 18 carries, consistently moving the chains against a fatigued New Orleans front. Kicker Chris Boswell capitalized on those drives, converting field goals from 28, 47, and 39 yards.[3][4]

Conversely, the Saints managed just 18 total rushing yards on 17 attempts, forcing quarterback Tyler Shough into predictable passing situations. Shough threw for 278 yards and a one-yard touchdown to Devaughn Vele, but the lack of balance stalled critical drives.[3]

"When you have a day like today, 17 runs for 18 yards, it's going to be hard to win football games doing that," Saints head coach Kellen Moore told reporters after the loss.[3]

New Orleans threatened to take the lead early in the third quarter, driving deep into Pittsburgh territory. However, Steelers linebacker Payton Wilson intercepted a short pass intended for Chris Olave in the red zone. Wilson credited his preparation for the turnover, noting he had repped that specific defensive read more than 20 times in practice.[3][4]

Closing Out the Clock

The Saints had one final opportunity to mount a comeback in the fourth quarter, but kicker Daniel Carlson pushed a 52-yard field goal attempt wide right. A subsequent possession ended abruptly when Pittsburgh linebacker Patrick Queen sacked Shough, forcing a turnover on downs and returning the ball to the Steelers offense.[3]

Needing a first down to drain the remaining time, Rodgers abandoned the pocket on a third-and-six play just before the two-minute warning. The veteran quarterback scrambled for eight yards into New Orleans territory, absorbing a hit rather than sliding to ensure the conversion and seal the 16-10 victory.[3][4]

"Sometimes you've got to suck it up and make a play for your guys," Rodgers said following the decisive run. "I think because I am so much less athletic than I used to be, it actually fires up the guys even more."[3][4]