FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Aaron Rodgers remains undecided on whether he will continue playing football after this season, and he’s not sure if he will return to the New York Jets if he does. The veteran quarterback, now 41, is open to exploring multiple options during the offseason. This could involve mentoring a younger player who may eventually take over his position or even renegotiating his contract to remain with the Jets for another year.
“Yeah, I’m open to everything,” Rodgers stated after a practice session. He anticipates being healthier when the next season begins than he was at the start of this season, which was marred by a torn Achilles tendon. “Yeah, it’s possible,” he added, breaking into a smile. “Might be sitting on a beach, though.”
Rodgers’ future is set to be a focal point of discussion as the offseason approaches, as people wonder whether he will return to the Jets, retire, or possibly sign with a different team. He emphasized that his preference is to stay in New York. “Yeah, I mean, there’s a lot of reasons why this would be a great opportunity,” he remarked. “But I’m going to see what happens. There are many elements that must unfold.”
He pointed out that the Jets are currently searching for a new general manager and head coach following the dismissals of Joe Douglas and Robert Saleh earlier this season. “Whether or not I’m part of the conversation or whether or not they move on,” Rodgers said, “whatever happens, I’ll be taking my time to consider my future.”
Rodgers faced a variety of injuries, including issues with his knee, ankle, and hamstring, which contributed to a dismal start for both him and the Jets at the beginning of the season. With the current record sitting at 4-10 and playoff hopes dashed for the fourteenth consecutive year, he acknowledged that neither his performance nor the team’s success has met his expectations. Nevertheless, he refuses to use these injuries as an excuse for his inconsistent play throughout the campaign.
“It’s a what-if game,” said Rodgers. “I don’t delve into that too deeply. I felt like I was healthy enough to play, so I played—that’s the bottom line. Some games I was more limited, while in others, I felt better. But clearly, I’ve been feeling much better over the past couple of weeks.”
In his recent performances, Rodgers has completed 43 of 69 passes—a 62% completion rate—totaling 628 yards and throwing four touchdowns without any interceptions. During a recent win against Jacksonville, he passed for 289 yards, including two touchdown throws to Davante Adams and another to Garrett Wilson, showcasing his ability to lead a comeback.
Despite this late-season uptrend, Rodgers stated that it would not greatly influence his decision-making process regarding next year. “No, I’m going to take some time after the year—unless, you know, I get released right away,” he joked. “But regardless, I’ll set aside time to step back from it all.”
He is under contract through next season, with a non-guaranteed base salary of $2.5 million. He also faces a $35 million option bonus due prior to the regular season, alongside a $23.5 million impact on the salary cap. Should Rodgers retire or be released, the Jets would incur a $49 million dead cap charge unless they opt to designate him a June 1 cut, which would allow them to spread the cost over two years.
These are just some considerations for the franchise’s new leadership, who will have to determine if they believe Rodgers can still lead the team and remain injury-free. Given that the Jets are likely to select within the top 10 of the upcoming draft, they might consider bringing in a new quarterback as well. If he remains with the team, Rodgers insists he would be fine with it. He even drew parallels to his own experience in Green Bay when the Packers drafted Jordan Love in 2020, leading to three seasons where he performed well despite the looming presence of a young quarterback behind him.
“When they drafted Jordan, I felt like I was one bad stretch from being benched, and I ended up winning MVP a couple of years, so that’s just how the league operates,” Rodgers said. “You have to demonstrate that you can perform every week and through various stretches. So if they want me back and draft a young player, I’d mentor him to the best of my ability while trying to play well enough to keep him on the bench.”
Rodgers also discussed injury status updates, mentioning that several players, including DT Quinnen Williams (hamstring) and CB Michael Carter II (back), were unable to participate in the team’s walkthrough practice. Meanwhile, S Jaylen Mills was placed on injured reserve after suffering a broken collarbone during the game against Jacksonville. DT Leki Fotu, currently on IR due to a knee issue, had his practice window opened.