Aaron Rodgers

Jets Talk Of Cutting Aaron Rodgers Preceded HC-GM Hires; Team Likely To Add Veteran QB

February 27th, 2025 at 7:47pm CST by Sam Robinson

Aaron Glenn has done his best to distance himself from the previous regime’s Aaron Rodgers experiment, making it known he would not cater to the former MVP like the Joe Douglas–Robert Saleh duo did. Shortly after Glenn’s hire, the Jets announced Rodgers would be jettisoned.

This had been the expected course of action, though a report had circulated indicating the new Jets HC and Rodgers were potentially OK working together for another season. On that note, Bovada’s Josina Anderson notes internal talk about the team wanting to end the Rodgers partnership had started at least a week before the hires of Glenn and GM Darren Mougey. This comes after a host of reports of Johnson meddling and after the owner said he would leave the decision to Glenn and Mougey.

Such a push would point to ownership driving that point, and it would not be a surprise if Woody Johnson indeed made that clear. Reports of Johnson and Rodgers not getting along had surfaced months ago. They involved Nathaniel Hackett‘s position and bled into the 2024 season, when Johnson was believed to have called for Rodgers’ benching on multiple occasions. After a failed experiment, the Jets will be done with the declining (but still capable) veteran and moving into uncertain territory at quarterback.

As it became clear Glenn and Mougey would start fresh at quarterback, a report indicated the team discussed Rodgers’ appearances on the Pat McAfee Show. Those weekly segments generated regular headlines, some of which Jets brass had to address. In what turned out to be a Rodgers exit meeting, Mougey said (via ESPN’s Kimberley Martin) no ultimatum was issued to the polarizing quarterback regarding his off-field schedule. Rodgers also took heat for skipping Jets mandatory minicamp, forcing Saleh to declare it an unexcused absence, but Anderson adds Jets players largely did not care that he missed the June workouts. Nevertheless, Rodgers is gone after a 5-12 season. He is tentatively expected to play in 2025.

With Rodgers destined to become a post-June 1 cut — which means he be will off the roster on March 12, when the 2025 league year begins — the Jets still have Tyrod Taylor on the roster. Mougey praised Taylor, but it does not sound like the nomadic QB’s roster spot is secure, as the new front office boss pegged it at too early to determine that component. The Jets have Taylor tied to a $6MM 2025 base salary. Due to void years being on Taylor’s deal, the team would be tagged with $5.7MM in dead money if it releases him. Still, the Jets should be expected to add a veteran soon, per ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini.

A report earlier this month indicated the Jets could pair a veteran passer with a rookie. Holding the No. 7 pick in a draft that both features a few QB-needy teams above them and a short supply of QB prospects, the Jets are not in a great place to add an heir apparent.

Barring an unlikely Sam Darnold return, the team also is moving on from probably the most talented option in Rodgers. Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, depending on how the Steelers proceed before March 10, could be in play. Ditto Kirk Cousins, whom the team aggressive pursued during his 2018 free agency. Bridge types like Jacoby Brissett, Jimmy Garoppolo, Marcus Mariota and Jameis Winston will be available as well.

It would seem likely the Jets will have a less talented quarterback than Rodgers leading their depth chart in 2025. While the organization may need a multiyear plan here, it will be interesting to see how the Glenn-Mougey regime picks up the pieces ahead of this coming season.

Aaron Rodgers Eyeing Rams, Aiming To Continue Playing With Davante Adams?

February 26th, 2025 at 11:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

Set to be released from his Jets contract soon, Aaron Rodgers must wait until March 12 before becoming a free agent. Because the Jets are planning to designate him as a post-June 1 cut, no official release can take place until the start of the 2025 league year. In the meantime, however, the future Hall of Fame quarterback can survey the landscape.

One place that would understandably generate interest: Los Angeles. Rodgers indeed is believed to be eyeing a Rams fit, according to the New York Daily News’ Pat Leonard. This is contingent upon the Rams following through with a Matthew Stafford trade. While Stafford and the Rams look to find a solution on his contract, a handful of teams have come up as destinations for the 37-year-old passer.

Rodgers is now 41 and not in the same form Stafford is. That said, he still played 17 games for the Jets and finished with 28 touchdown passes compared to 11 interceptions (albeit at just 6.7 yards per attempt). The former Packers superstar has not closely reminded fans of his MVP form, but he would be an upgrade for teams in need at the position. While teams like the Steelers, Browns and Raiders would come to mind as potential fits — particularly Pittsburgh and Cleveland due to the AFC North teams’ roster talent — the Rams have presented an optimal fit for quarterbacks since Sean McVay arrived in 2017.

Rodgers led the way to the Jets acquiring several of his ex-Green Bay teammates, with OC Nathaniel Hackett also owing his status in New York to his former Packers pupil. If Rodgers commits to playing a 21st season (a direction he is leaning), Leonard writes he would want to bring Davante Adams with him once again. The Jets gave up a third-round pick for Adams, and while that did not reignite last season’s edition, the former All-Pro did outperform Amari Cooper and DeAndre Hopkins; he just did so for a 5-12 team.

The four-time MVP has a home in Los Angeles, and Adams has been tied to seeking a West Coast fit. The Rams came up as a potential destination, adding some intrigue here. It is not certain the Rams would want Rodgers, who does bring some baggage at this point in his career. A scenario in which the Rams move off Stafford and add Rodgers on the cheap could appeal to the NFC West club, but counting on a 40-something passer who suffered an Achilles tear in September 2023 would not be for everyone. If the Rams do pull the trigger on moving Stafford, though, they would obviously want a path to a starter-caliber quarterback to help sustain their playoff status.

Jets GM Darren Mougey did not indicate which way the team was leaning with Adams, only saying he is still at Jet at this time. But the team will not pay the accomplished wideout a $35.6MM base salary. The Jets are expected to move on soon, and they would not need to wait until June 1 with Adams. Cutting the 32-year-old performer would save the team $29.9MM.

The Rams signing off on the same Rodgers-Adams package the Jets are jettisoning would be interesting, given the team’s status as a perennial (save for an injury-ravaged 2022 season) contender. After all, the team is preparing to move on from its own 30-something receiver — Cooper Kupp. But it would appear Rodgers is closely monitoring the Stafford situation just in case the Rams would be interested in being his third NFL employer.

Re-Examining Jets’ Aaron Rodgers Addition

February 23rd, 2025 at 9:14pm CST by Adam La Rose

When the Jets traded for Aaron Rodgers, the move was known to be a short-term acquisition. Still, the future Hall of Famer’s abbreviated tenure in New York took a form neither he nor the team anticipated and both sides are now moving on.

In the spring of 2023, the Jets faced the task of once again attempting to find a feasible solution at the quarterback spot. The Sam Darnold selection (third overall, 2018) did not work out as planned, and the decision to trade him to the Panthers after three seasons as a starter signaled another reset at the position. Zach Wilson (second overall, 2021) underwhelmed during his first two years atop the depth chart and was ultimately traded away like three of the other passers taken on Day 1 from his draft class.

After inheriting Darnold, general manager Joe Douglas was tasked with moving on and finding a suitable replacement. The Wilson selection did not meet that goal, and in 2023 adding an established signal-caller represented an obvious priority. A roster featuring former Offensive and Defensive Rookies of the Year (Garrett Wilson, Sauce Gardner) on their initial contracts offered intriguing potential with stable quarterback play. With a Rodgers-Packers separation on the table, the possibility of a trade increased.

Rodgers made public his desire to continue his decorated career with the Jets, and a swap was ultimately worked out in April. Two of his four career MVP awards came in the 2020s, so expectations were high upon arrival in New York for a stretch atop the depth chart with Wilson serving as an understudy. That plan was of course altered right away as a result of Rodgers’ Achilles tear four snaps into his Jets debut. Wilson and Co. struggled on offense en route to a 7-10 record.

By the time Rodgers was back on the field, Wilson had been dealt to the Broncos while Douglas, head coach Robert Saleh and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett remained in place after receiving a mulligan from ownership. Issues on offense persisted early in 2024, however, and in the midst of what became a five-game losing streak Saleh was fired. That move was accompanied by Hackett (who worked with Rodgers in Green Bay and was added to the staff not long before the trade was made) being demoted, something Saleh contemplated during the offseason.

While Rodgers managed to remain in the lineup for all 17 games, the staff changes and even the trade acquisition of longtime Packers teammate Davante Adams did not produce the desired results. After dismissing Douglas midway through the campaign, signs pointed to the Jets moving in a new direction once again this offseason. The new regime led by Darren Mougey and Aaron Glenn will now take on the renewed task of finding a short- and long-term solution under center.

As that process unfolds, a look back on the price paid to add Rodgers reveals the extent of the commitment the Jets made in acquiring him. Here is the final breakdown of the trade with Green Bay which resulted in his New York arrival:

Jets received:

Rodgers
No. 15 pick in 2023 draft (used on DE Will McDonald)
No. 170 pick in 2023 (subsequently traded for the selections used on S Jarrick Bernard-Converse and TE Zack Kuntz)

Packers received:

No. 13 pick in 2023 draft (used on OLB Lukas Van Ness)
No. 42 pick in 2023 (used on TE Luke Musgrave)
No. 207 pick in 2023 (used on K Anders Carlson)
No. 41 pick in 2024 (subsequently traded for the selection used on LB Edgerrin Cooper along with a collection of other Day 3 picks)

McDonald certainly enjoyed a much more productive Year 2 than Van Ness, but Cooper’s potential shown late in his rookie campaign in particular has him on track to operate as a key Packers defender for the foreseeable future. From Green Bay’s perspective, of course, the Rodgers swap also allowed the team to move out the remainder of his contract and marked the beginning of the full-fledged commitment to Jordan Love at quarterback.

Rodgers accepted a considerable pay cut upon arrival with the Jets, agreeing to a new pact which took into account his intention of playing at least two years for his new team. Even with that move, he would up collecting $75.05MM for his pair of campaigns in New York. The Jets’ decision to move forward with a release will likely take the form of a post-June 1 cut, something which will generate a dead cap charge of $49MM spread across 2025 and ’26.

Of course, the Rodgers experiment also brought with it the acquisition cost for several of his former Packers teammates. That included the free agent signings of Allen Lazard (four years, $44MM) and Randall Cobb (one year, $3MM) in 2023. The latter retired after his one-and-done Jets campaign, while the former did not produce as expected even when Rodgers was healthy. A Lazard release is expected in the near future, and if the move does not carry a post-June 1 designation New York’s $6.63M in savings will essentially be balanced out by the dead money charge of $6.55MM.

As for Adams, the trade which brought him from the Raiders to the Jets cost a third-round pick (since the conditions required to upgrade it to a second-rounder were not met). The six-time Pro Bowler averaged over 77 receiving yards per contest and scored seven touchdowns in 11 games with New York, but with Rodgers on the way out he is likely to be cut. Moving on from Adams will create considerable savings for the Jets, but doing so before the start of the new league year will nevertheless generate $8.36MM in dead money.

While it is true the Jets would have made other additions at the receiver spot without Rodgers in place over the past two years, the team’s 2023 and ‘24 aggressiveness proved to be quite costly. Counting the Day 1 and 3 selections used in his trade as a wash while adding in the money and cap commitments also made to the Cobb-Lazard-Adams trio (plus the pick used to acquire the latter), the final tally stands at two second-rounders, one third-round selection, roughly $111MM in cash and nearly $64MM in dead money across the next two years. In all, the Jets went 12-22 in the Rodgers era.

In the wake of his split with the team’s new regime, it has been learned Rodgers still has the door open to continuing his career in 2025. Regardless of what happens on that front, it is clear Mougey and Glenn will hope to have better success at the quarterback spot than their predecessors.

Aaron Rodgers Has “Tentative Intention” Of Playing In 2025

February 17th, 2025 at 9:23pm CST by Ben Levine

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.

Jets Likely To Proceed With Post-June 1 Aaron Rodgers Release

February 13th, 2025 at 10:07pm CST by Adam La Rose

On Thursday, the Jets confirmed their discussions with Aaron Rodgers resulted in the decision being made that the team will move in a different direction this offseason. If the future Hall of Fame quarterback is to continue his career in 2025, it will be with another franchise.

“It was important to have this discussion now to provide clarity and enable each of us the proper time to plan for our respective futures,” a joint statement from head coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey reads in part. “We want to thank [Rodgers] for the leadership, passion, and dedication he brought to the organization and wish him success moving forward.”

Rodgers was reportedly prepared to once again restructure his pact to remain in New York, but the franchise’s new regime will make the expected move of starting over at the QB spot. The decision now facing Mougey and Glenn is whether to cut bait immediately or designate the 41-year-old as a post-June 1 release. Taking the latter route (something Mougey is certainly familiar with since his time with the Broncos included Russell Wilson‘s departure) would spread out the dead money charges on Rodgers’ pact across two years.

On that note, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports a post-June 1 cut is likely. Provided that proves to be the case, the Jets will take on a $14MM dead cap charge for 2025 with the remaining $35MM in dead money landing on the team’s 2026 cap sheet. New York would see $9.5MM is savings this year, but only after June 1. Rodgers would remain on the roster until the start of new league year in mid-March if the Jets opted against an immediate release.

In Wilson’s situation last offseason, the Broncos allowed him and his representation to speak to interested teams before he officially became a free agent. That will again be the case this time around with Rodgers. As Rapoport notes, the fact the Jets have announced their intentions means potential suitors can make contact before the two-day legal tampering window opens next month. If the four-time MVP decides to continue playing, he will therefore be able to get a head start on free agency.

The list of suitors for Rodgers could be limited based on his age, middling 2024 production and the tension which emerged with ownership during his Jets tenure. Still, a short-term arrangement could allow him to serve as a bridge starter for a team which drafts a successor as early as this spring. The Jets have Tyrod Taylor under contract, but another starting-caliber option could be on the team’s radar via trade, free agency or the draft. By the time the new league year begins, more clarity on Rodgers’ future and that of the Jets will no doubt emerge.

Jets To Move On From Aaron Rodgers

February 13th, 2025 at 10:12am CST by Adam La Rose

FEBRUARY 13: The Jets have announced that Rodgers will not return in 2025. A parting of ways with Adams can also be expected, but at a minimum it is now confirmed that team will have new starter under center next season. How strong of a market Rodgers generates – if he continues playing – will become a interesting storyline in advance of free agency.

FEBRUARY 9: As most anticipated, the Jets appear ready to move on from quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Per FOX Sports’ Jay Glazer, the 41-year-old passer flew to New Jersey last week to talk with the club, only to be told that Gang Green will be parting ways with him.

In the wake of the Jets’ decision to fire head coach Robert Saleh and then general manager Joe Douglas midway through the campaign, it became clear a parting of ways was likely in this situation. Uncertainty loomed as a new regime was brought in, but the organization will indeed start over at the quarterback spot in 2025. Rodgers’ New York tenure will thus end after only two years.

The longtime Packers star had a rocky end to his tenure in Green Bay, with the Jets emerging as a destination he was interested in as part of his efforts to continue his career. A deal was ultimately worked out – with New York sending a package consisting of a pair of second-round picks in addition to the teams swapping Day 1 selections in 2023 – and expectations were therefore high for the Jets to find short-term stability under center. Rodgers’ debut campaign ended after only four snaps, though, with an Achilles tear leaving him sidelined the rest of the way.

Douglas, Saleh and former offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett received a mulligan from ownership this past offseason, and Rodgers did manage to play all 17 games in 2024. Still, the team fell well short of expectations and wound up outside the postseason. Retirement is still under consideration in Rodgers’ case, but in any event the Jets will move on. Remaining together was something new head coach Aaron Glenn was open to, but he and first-time general manager Darren Mougey stopped short of making a commitment one way or another when speaking about the team’s QB setup for 2025.

Earlier on Sunday, Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (the latter of whom has since confirmed the expectation is that the Jets and Rodgers will part ways) reported a decision on this front was likely this coming week. A formal announcement should thus be expected shortly, but nevertheless the Jets will now turn their attention to finding a new short- and/or long-term QB solution. The failure of the Sam Darnold and Zach Wilson selections drove the Rodgers acquisition, and it will be interesting to see if the draft is again pursued this April or if the new regime will take a different route.

Glazer’s colleague Jordan Schultz – who also reported on Sunday a Rodgers split was likely – adds this move was influenced more by the nature of his contract than his up-and-down level of play this past season. The four-time MVP is due $37.5MM in 2025, with none of his base salary guaranteed. Teams which view Rodgers as a viable option could look to swing a trade at a reduced price, but it would come as no surprise if the Jets proceeded with a release. Doing so with a post-June 1 designation will be required to avoid incurring a massive dead cap charge.

Tyrod Taylor is under contract for next year at a reasonable cap hit of $6.8MM, and he would welcome the chance to again operate as a starter. New York will be in the market for another passer this offseason, though, and ESPN’s Rich Cimini names Kirk Cousins as a potential option. The Falcons are likely to move on from Cousins, who is familiar to new front office exec Rick Speilman given their time together in Minnesota. In any case, how the Mougey-Glenn pairing operates at the quarterback spot will be critical moving forward.

Rodgers and Davante Adams reunited with the Jets ahead of the 2024 trade deadline, but the latter’s future was clouded by uncertainty based on the former’s tenuous hold on a New York roster spot for next season. Now that Rodgers is known to be on the way out, it would come as no surprise if Adams were to change teams once again; a return to the west coast could be in order. Another Rodgers-Adams pairing could be in store, but only if Rodgers elects to continue playing. If that proves to be the case, he will need to suit up for a third NFL team in the closing chapter of his decorated career.

Rory Parks contributed to this post.

Aaron Rodgers, Aaron Glenn Had Multiple Meetings; Jets Also Likely To Separate From Davante Adams

February 11th, 2025 at 10:19pm CST by Sam Robinson

Darren Mougey may soon be tied to the two largest single-player dead money hits in NFL history. Mougey worked with Sean Payton and George Paton as the Broncos signed off on an astonishing $83MM-plus in Russell Wilson dead cap, and he is now in charge of a Jets team prepared to move on from Aaron Rodgers. The expected release would come with a $49MM dead money charge, which figures to also be spread out into two offseasons via a post-June 1 designation.

If the Jets are to take that route, they must wait until March 12 to release Rodgers. The Jets communicated with their high-profile quarterback late last week, with SI.com’s Albert Breer reporting the team flew Rodgers in for that meeting. This was not the only time Rodgers and new Jets HC Aaron Glenn spoke this offseason, as ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini indicates the two had multiple conversations since the hire.

The Broncos had faced a deadline on Wilson’s 2025 salary becoming guaranteed had he not been released before the 2024 vesting date, whereas Rodgers’ 2025 salary is nonguaranteed right now. The Jets could also be prepared to cut the at once, with OverTheCap’s Jason Fitzgerald pointing to the more likely scenario being Rodgers is released soon and thus not set to carry a post-June 1 designation. Rather than the Jets taking on $14MM in dead cap this year and $35MM in 2026, a standard release would tag them with the entire bill in 2025.

New regimes generally care less about dead money charges associated with previous staffs, but given the high turnover rate (especially in the coaching ranks) in the modern NFL, it would stand to reason Glenn would not want $49MM clogging the Jets’ 2025 salary cap. Despite Glenn having a high opinion of Rodgers’ abilities during the latter’s final Packers season and the two being amenable to working together with the Jets, the AFC East team has been widely expected to move on from a failed experiment for several weeks. The Sunday report offered some finality, and the timing of the official move will clear up the financial component.

Rodgers, 41, was open to reworking his deal yet again, SNY’s Connor Hughes offers. Rodgers took a significant pay cut in reworking his deal upon arriving in New York, and the polarizing QB did not insist on a new deal during his Packers standoff in 2021. (The Packers did give him one in 2022, designing the contract to help facilitate a 2023 trade.) Rodgers has earned more than $380MM in his career; fit figures to be his primary concern if he plays a 21st season.

It is not yet known if that will happen, though ESPN’s Adam Schefter said during a Pat McAfee Show appearance that he does expect a 21st season to commence (video link). We asked readers in December where Rodgers would end up. Retirement won out, and the Raiders checked in as the top non-Jets option. While I suggested the Titans in a Trade Rumors Front Office piece, that came before Tennessee obtained the No. 1 overall pick. As of now, DraftKings has the Steelers as a slight favorite for Rodgers, with the Raiders and 49ers checking in at second and third here.

Rodgers has enjoyed a weekly spot on McAfee’s show for a while, frequently using the platform to levy various criticisms and make a number of interesting statements — many not pertaining to football. Had Rodgers been asked to stay with the Jets, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini said during her Scoop City podcast (via Awful Announcing) Glenn and Mougey would have wanted him to ditch the McAfee segments and focus on football. This follows a Glenn introductory presser where he seemed to draw a line from a period where the Jets constantly catered to Rodgers, whose relationship with Woody Johnson also deteriorated during this span.

As fun as a Rodgers-Mike Tomlin pairing would be, Pittsburgh has been closely connected to re-signing either Wilson or Justin Fields; Fields may be the more likely candidate to be retained. Rodgers would be a passing upgrade on both, but pivoting from a 25-year-old Fields for a 41-year-old Rodgers would be an interesting route. Fields staying in Pittsburgh would place Wilson and Kirk Cousins as veterans competing with Rodgers for jobs, adding intrigue to a QB market that may or may not include Sam Darnold — depending on the Vikings’ franchise tag call. A robust Rodgers market may not be too likely, but teams figure to show interest.

If Rodgers is out in New York, it should come as no surprise that Davante Adams is likely gone too. The Jets will not keep Adams on his Raiders-designed contract, per Breer, who notes the All-Pro receiver is almost certainly to be jettisoned soon.

Adams is tied to no guaranteed money on his through-2026 deal, but a Jets October restructure added two void years to his deal. Still, cutting the 32-year-old wideout would create more than $29MM in cap space. The team has not been in contact with the Taco Bell pitchman, who has since been linked to west coast teams like the Rams, Chargers and 49ers.

The Rodgers-Adams pairing leaving town may be good news for the Jets’ hopes of appeasing Garrett Wilson, who was believed to be clashing with the QB and taking issue with his targets following the Adams trade. The Jets will pick up Wilson’s fifth-year option by the May deadline, putting him under contract through 2026. If/when Adams is out, the Jets will again need to address their No. 2 receiver post — a common issue for Gang Green in recent years.

Jets Notes: Rodgers, Reed, Lazard, FA

February 5th, 2025 at 10:10pm CST by Ben Levine

With the Jets having settled on their organizational hierarchy, focus will now pivot to the roster…particularly their high-priced, future Hall of Fame quarterback. Aaron Rodgers has generally been noncommittal regarding his Jets future, and the QB continued that trend during a chat with the Golf Channel during the WM Phoenix Open.

“I’ve talked with the Jets,” Rodgers said when asked about his immediate future (via ESPN’s Rich Cimini). “We’ll figure things out when we figure them out.”

New head coach Aaron Glenn and new GM Darren Mougey will be responsible for figuring out the team’s approach at the position, as Woody Johnson has said he’ll be hands off when it comes to the handling of Rodgers. Both sides have expressed interest in keeping Rodgers in New York for the 2025 campaign, but things can obviously quickly change.

While neither the organization nor Rodgers are being definitive about his status, two members of the Jets have made it clear they want the veteran back in 2025. Quincy Williams noted that the former Super Bowl winner “takes our game to another level,” while Jermaine Johnson said he’d “obviously” welcome Rodgers back next season (per Brian Costello of the New York Post).

More notes out of New York…

While Rodgers’ status with the team is uncertain, it sounds a bit more definitive that two other veterans won’t be back in 2025. According to Costello, cornerback D.J. Reed isn’t expected to re-sign with the organization while wide receiver Allen Lazard is expected to be a cap casualty. Reed inked a three-year contract with the Jets back in 2022 that’s set to expire, and the veteran should garner plenty of interest after starting each of his 46 appearances with the organization. Lazard is still attached to the four-year deal he signed with the organization in 2023, and while his numbers took a step forward playing alongside Rodgers, his production with the Jets (60 catches, 841 yards in 26 games) doesn’t justify the financial commitment.
Mekhi Becton has turned around his career in Philly, as the former first-round pick has shed his “bust” label. Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic explored Becton’s career evolution, including the end of his tumultuous tenure with the Jets. Most notably, the lineman ignored a number of messages from position coach John Benton during the 2022 offseason. This followed a 2021 campaign when Becton was limited to one game thanks to a knee injury. Becton’s 2022 season was somehow even worse, as the lineman suffered a kneecap injury that erased another campaign.
With Glenn now running the show, the former Lions defensive coordinator will predictably recruit players from his former stop. One of his potential targets will likely be Derrick Barnes, according to Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda.com. The former fourth-round pick just completed his rookie contract after spending the first four seasons of his career in Detroit, where he collected 205 tackles in 51 games. The linebacker was limited to only three appearances this past season thanks to a knee injury.

Darren Mougey, Aaron Glenn To Each Report To Ownership; Latest On Jets’ Aaron Rodgers Decision

January 27th, 2025 at 11:05pm CST by Sam Robinson

After adjusting their organizational workflow during the Joe Douglas-Robert Saleh era, the Jets are shifting back to a setup in which the head coach holds a bit more power.

Aaron Glenn and new GM Darren Mougey will each report to Woody Johnson, the longtime owner confirmed (via SNY’s Connor Hughes) on Monday. Considering the (largely Johnson-generated) negative perception around the Jets during this year’s hiring cycle, Glenn receiving this power is not too surprising. The Jets were able to land one of the top HC candidates in this year’s pool, and the team will give him a greater influence in the building.

This does give Mougey a bit less power, but given how matters deteriorated during Douglas’ tenure, the Jets going with this two-pronged reporting structure makes sense as a changeup approach. Mougey comes over from the Broncos, where the GM also does not hold complete authority. At least, Mougey’s ex-boss — George Paton — has not done so since Sean Payton‘s 2023 arrival. A number of NFL teams use a setup in which the HC and GM report to ownership; the Jets are back among that contingent.

Mougey and Glenn will be partners moving forward. After a chaotic final stretch during the Douglas-Saleh period, it will be interesting to see how the Jets function under their new personnel leaders. Ex-Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum, whom the team entrusted to help pick out new leadership, said during an interview with ESPN 880 New York; h/t ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini) he and The33rdteam.com colleague Rick Spielman emphasized leadership over scheme when landing on Glenn.

Regarding Mougey, Tannenbaum pointed to the former Paton lieutenant surviving an ownership change while rising up the chain as a sign of his abilities. The Broncos hired Mougey in 2012, when Pat Bowlen was still charge, and retained him under the Rob Walton-led group. With John Elway effectively holding owner-level power while the Bowlen heirs squabbled during the late 2010s, Mougey’s acumen may be best illustrated by him remaining in Denver under Elway, Paton and then Payton’s leadership.

Prior to landing on Mougey, the Jets interviewed a host of candidates. A previously unreported one — interim GM Phil Savage — also met about the position, per the New York Post’s Brian Costello. Savage, who is better known for his four-year run as Browns GM during the 2000s, ran the Jets’ GM interview count to 16. Of those, six — Savage, Thomas Dimitroff, Ray Farmer, Brian Gaine, Ryan Grigson and Jon Robinson — were second-chance candidates. This hiring period saw both the NFL’s current second-chance GMs — Tom Telesco, Trent Baalke — axed, reminding how uncommon it is for front office bosses to resurface in power compared to HCs.

As Tannenbaum said Glenn “checked every box,” Glenn said Monday he will not call defensive plays. This will be a change for the four-year coordinator, who was the Lions’ defensive play-caller throughout his tenure with the resurgent franchise. Glenn’s next DC will hold that responsibility, while the former Payton lieutenant operates as a CEO HC.

Regarding Glenn’s next quarterback, Johnson said he will not throw his weight around regarding Aaron Rodgers‘ future. Johnson called Rodgers “a talent, a Hall of Famer” but said he would let Mougey and Glenn decide his Jets future. Rodgers said recently his future with the team was in the next HC-GM pair’s hands, and a Sunday report indicated both Glenn and Rodgers would be open to a partnership for the 2025 season. Glenn certainly stopped short of hinting which direction the Jets will go when asked about Rodgers’ future.

“This thing is not about Aaron Rodgers, folks. This is about the roster,” Glenn said, via Cimini. “We plan on building the best roster that we can. So, whatever that may be — guard, tackle, defensive tackle — that’s what we’re evaluating. Listen, everybody’s under the microscope. That’s just what it is.”

As our Rory Parks pointed out, the Jets holding the No. 7 overall pick — in a much-maligned draft at the QB position — and not having a younger option waiting in the wings would presumably make them likely to reexamine the Rodgers situation. In the wake of Douglas’ firing, a few reports suggested Rodgers was on his way out in New York. Amid a meddling spree on the owner’s part, Johnson was believed to have called for Rodgers’ benching on multiple occasions.

It would cost the Jets more than $49MM in dead money, which would likely be spread over two years via post-June 1 release, to dump Rodgers’ contract. If Glenn and Mougey want to start fresh, that makes sense. But obtaining a surefire upgrade on Rodgers will not be a lock.

Then again, Rodgers has not yet determined if he wants to continue playing. Plenty of moving parts exist for the Jets at quarterback. After Johnson’s previous interference — to the point at least one of his teenage sons was believed to be involved in personnel decisions — irked Douglas and many others (per Cimini) in the organization, the owner will attempt to step back and let his new hires run the show.

Jets HC Aaron Glenn Amenable To Aaron Rodgers Return; Rodgers Willing To Play For Glenn

January 26th, 2025 at 10:10pm CST by Rory Parks

The Jets have their new head coach (Aaron Glenn) and general manager (Darren Mougey) in place. They also have 41-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers under contract through 2025. Although there is plenty of non-QB work for the new power brokers to accomplish – including hiring an offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator – one can reasonably expect Rodgers-Jets rumors to begin circulating anew.

Before New York agreed to terms with Glenn and Mougey, Rodgers acknowledged that his future with the club would be up to the new hirees (though he also has plenty of say in the matter himself, of course, especially since retirement is a real option). According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, Glenn is open to a Rodgers return, and the quarterback is likewise amenable to playing for the first-time HC (video link).

We heard back in November that the Jets were likely to part ways with Rodgers this offseason, a sentiment that was echoed earlier this month. After his first Jets campaign in 2023 was cut short after just four snaps, Rodgers played an entire season in 2024, though the results generally fell short of expectations. For what it’s worth, Glenn still viewed Rodgers as an elite quarterback at the time he was traded from the Packers, ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini notes. While plenty has changed since, Glenn did coach against Rodgers four times while an NFC North DC.

Additionally, due to the looming presence of a $35MM roster bonus that can be paid at any time prior to Week 1 of the 2025 season, it would be more expensive to part ways with Rodgers in 2026 than it would be if New York elected to move on now and avoid paying out the bonus.

On the other hand, it’s not as if the Jets have a young passer waiting in the wings, and their No. 7 overall draft slot may not be high enough to select one of the top signal-callers in this year’s crop absent a trade-up maneuver (and the 2025 class of QBs is considered to be a weak one anyway). And, since the Jets do have a number of talented players on both sides of the ball, Glenn and Mougey may feel that Rodgers, coupled with a non-Nathaniel Hackett OC, gives them the best chance to start their tenures out on the right foot by turning in a competitive 2025 season.

The relatively weak QB draft class could bolster the asking prices of several veteran passers who are likely to hit free agency. Rodgers would theoretically be among that group if the Jets choose to cut him, but recent reports have suggested he may not generate a particularly strong market. That could partially explain his preference to remain with New York should he opt to continue his playing career.

In 17 games in 2024, Rodgers led the team to a 5-12 record and completed 63% of his passes for 3,897 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. That amounted to a traditional quarterback rating of 90.5 (just below league average) and a QBR of 49.5, which trailed the likes of Aidan O’Connell and Mason Rudolph.

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