The Jets unofficially ended their brief Aaron Rodgers era last week, with the team (and new leadership) announcing they’d go in a different direction at the position in 2025. Even before the Jets publicly announced the divorce, there were some questions surrounding the future Hall of Famer’s playing status. For what it’s worth, the Jets were left with the impression that Rodgers intends to play next season.
According to Albert Breer of SI.com, Rodgers told general manager Darren Mougey and head coach Aaron Glenn that “it was his tentative intention” to continue playing in 2025. Jets leadership was also left with the impression that Rodgers wanted to handle some “unfinished business.”
There were high hopes in New York as Rodgers returned from his Achilles injury from 2024. We’re all plenty familiar with what happened next. Robert Saleh was the first scapegoat in a season that eventually ended with a 5-12 record, but the veteran QB was also plenty to blame, as Rodgers finished the year with one of the worst completion percentages (63.0) and passing success rates (43.9) of his career.
For what it’s worth, Breer notes that Rodgers showed plenty of self-awareness during his postseason meeting with Jets leadership, with the veteran understanding that the organization may want to go in a different direction at the position. On the flip side, the Jets still believe that Rodgers has something left in the tank, and the team’s decision to move on was more about differing timelines than a lack of confidence in the player.
While Rodgers will likely be a post-June 1 cut, the Jets are expected to allow the quarterback and his representation to speak to interested teams before he officially hits free agency. Considering his age, underwhelming 2024 production, and the circus that would inevitably surround his acquisition, it’s uncertain if Rodgers will have a long list of suitors waiting for him. The veteran will also surely be looking for a team that wants to win now, so it will certainly take a unique pairing.
Assuming Rodgers does end up playing, he’ll have an opportunity to continue climbing the all-time leader boards. Rodgers sits seventh in passing yards but could easily jump to fifth (ahead of Ben Roethlisberger and Philip Rivers) with a healthy 2025 campaign. Rodgers could also easily pass Brett Favre for fourth on the all-time touchdowns list, and a return to his old form could have him approaching Peyton Manning‘s third-place spot.
Before Rodgers’ can focus on the all-time lists, he’ll need to find a new home. Considering his long track record, there will surely be at least one team that’s willing to take a chance on the former MVP.
Wordplay like “tentative intention” from Rodgers is why KC gave Kelce a decision deadline…
If Rodgers were a politician he could just say “I can neither confirm or deny that I am non-committal”.
Every team that’s suggested will have its detractors, but if Rodgers doesn’t retire, he’s going somewhere.
Cleveland? Tennessee? Las Vegas? Pittsburgh? Indianapolis?
All of these teams have reasons not to sign him. Some are much more of a pipe dream (Seattle) than realistic (Tennessee) suggestions. But ranging from extreme long shots (San Francisco) to unlikely (Indianapolis) to possible (Cleveland), there is one common factor, which is money. How much do we think that Rodgers is going to demand?
I actually don’t think that he’ll demand that much. His ego is deflated since he arrived in New York, with expectations that he could be the missing piece to a solid roster. At this point.l, Rodgers has more to prove than he has since he started. His willingness to take cuts (one completed, one reportedly offered) in New York hopefully indicate that he is aware of his current value.
So, whatever Rodgers wants, it will probably dictate how wide his range of possibilities are. Not many teams right now want to pay that desperately for a 40 plus year old starter, no matter his resume. Rodgers’ next team will be more dictated by contractual demands. Personally, I’d like to see him end up in Minnesota, just to complete one cycle of the Favre rotation.
I think Aaron would sacrifice money for playing time.
I think he signs in the $20-25M range and maybe it’s a package deal for him and Adams both and they both give a slight discount to grab another veteran or two to help the O-Line.
The Raiders have the money to do this and grab a RB like Aaron Jones, who also did well with Rodgers behind center and is also a free agent. They could draft Jeanty with the six pick and have a solid one/two punch at RB to go with an above average WR core with Adams / Meyers / Tucker / Bowers. Grab an Offensive lineman or two and this offense would put up points and move the ball, especially with Chip Kelly/Tom Brady and Rodgers brainstorming together.
Helps the defense out a lot as well by having less plays per game. Heck, go crazy and trade for Myles Garret to play opposite of Crosby and go ball out in that division, where if you can get to the QB in a hurry, it shows you can slow down Mahomes / Herbert/ and Nix.
It would be such a Titan’s move to sign him- with a lame O-line and running game- in a vain attempt to get the fanbase excited for the new stadium that they didn’t need.
If I’m Rodgers I’m looking at titans or steelers
Steelers don’t want that much drama in their locker room. They have shipped out plenty of diva wr’s over the past decade for that reason.
Nobody handles players with massive egos better than Mike Tomlin though.
Exactly. Mike could be first coach to neutralize Rodgers
Rodgers: “Sorry coach, but I just realized that I booked a month-long cruise for September. I’d like to join you, but the $10k I spent is non-refundable”
If I’m an NFL team, I’m not interested in the slightest what Aaron Rodgers is looking at.
It seems like a team would have to have an almost all-time great offensive line to give him enough protection to lead a winning team successfully.
He is going to the quarterback version of Saints head coaching job. Some takes it because it is only job left. . someone will take chance on him. more teams then Quarterbacks who actually can play. teams at bottom all have bad quarterbacks. You get one with talent like Daniels immediately your team is better.
One reason I’m glad the Jets cut ties is that his “Will I or won’t I?” spiel is not their concern.
I mean he very much wanted to come back to the Jets. Its become clear that there wasnt a “Will I or wont I” this year
After the last few years, I’m very skeptical that Rodgers was suddenly going to offer a comfortable level of certainty and commitment.
Throughout the season he indicated he wanted to come back and the most recent reports is that he pleaded with Glenn to come back and turn the team around. Idk what more you want
Did he want it enough to commit to attending training camp and doing McAfee less?
Did you want to google enough to know the report about New York making not appearing on McAfee a condition was false?
Look, you can keep stanning for the guy, but I’m ready to believe all the people who’ve found Rodgers to be a pain over the last half decade. He’s probably better than what they’ll have at QB this coming season, but he’s 41, immobile, inflexible about scheme, and isn’t good enough anymore to elevate them to any meaningful level of contention.
He didn’t bother joining them for training camp, so I question his commitment.
Hey so dont mean to spoil the 2024 season for you but he played all 17 games after not showing up to training camp.
Maybe attending training camp would have helped him have literally any chemistry with Mike Williams, among other things.
lmao hate to break it to you but Mike Williams is cooked
Rodgers is mostly cooked too, but it could only have helped to actually spend some time together.
No teams want his baggage. He’s done.
Rodgers will travel to Egypt and play for the Cairo Fighting Camels. The money isn’t great but the team owner has promised to build him a pyramid and have him mummified like King Tut when his football career concludes.
have him mummified like King Tut when his football career concludes.
======================
I saw him play some last year. The mummification process is already underway.
yawn
I still like the Seahawks as a dark horse for him. They could trade Geno to a team that drafts a rookie QB.
All he had to do was commit to not doing Pat Mcafee.
He won’t do that.
This from a guy who needed a hippie retreat to decide if he was playing.
A guy who scheduled a trip to Egypt at the worst possible time.
A guy who routinely goes out of his way to fight with GMs and coaches.
A guy who is seriously having skill regression right before our eyes.
And now “Tentative intention”
Someone will roll the dice, but don’t expect a happy ending. This narcissist will find a way to deny any responsibility.