Aaron Rodgers is currently deliberating on whether to proceed with his football career, but if he chooses to continue, it seems he won’t be doing so with the New York Jets.
According to reports from Fox Sports, the franchise has communicated to the 41-year-old quarterback that they are “moving on from him.”
Towards the conclusion of the Jets’ disappointing 5-12 season, Rodgers shared his uncertainty regarding his future in the sport. He mentioned his desire to take a mental break to refresh himself, stating he wanted to “put my feet in the sand, and see where I’m at after that.”
However, it was unclear whether the Jets were eager to have the four-time MVP back as their quarterback.
Recently, the team appointed a new general manager, Darren Mougey, and head coach, Aaron Glenn. During a press conference on January 27, owner Woody Johnson indicated that the newly established management team would hold the final authority on such decisions.
Coach Glenn confirmed that he had reached out to Rodgers and intended to discuss the situation soon with him and other players on the roster. He emphasized to reporters that the focus is not solely on Aaron Rodgers, but rather a broader perspective that encompasses the whole team.
In light of these statements, it appears that the Jets are preparing to move forward without their veteran quarterback.
Fox Sports reported that Rodgers had a meeting with the Jets in New Jersey where he was informed of the team’s intended direction.
Currently, the Jets’ roster includes veteran quarterback Tyrod Taylor and young player Jordan Travis, who spent his rookie season on the non-football injury list. Additionally, New York holds the seventh overall pick in the upcoming April draft, which means they may actively seek out a new quarterback.
Rodgers, who became the fifth player in NFL history to reach 500 touchdown passes in the regular season, has one final year of non-guaranteed money remaining on his contract with the Jets. His salary cap hit would amount to $23.5 million.
Should the Jets choose to release him or if he decides to retire, they could face a significant dead money charge of $49 million next season unless they opt to designate him as a post-June 1 cut, which would allow them to distribute that hit over two years.
After an illustrious eighteen years with the Green Bay Packers, Rodgers was traded to the Jets in April 2023.
Unfortunately, his first season in New York was abruptly halted just four plays into his debut due to a torn left Achilles tendon. Despite successfully returning to the field this season and starting all games, his performance was notably inconsistent.
He achieved impressive statistics with 28 touchdown passes and 3,897 passing yards, ranking third for a single season in Jets franchise history. Nonetheless, he didn’t exhibit the playmaking brilliance that characterized his earlier career.
In his final appearance with the Jets, he showcased a glimpse of his former self, throwing four touchdown passes in a season-ending victory over Miami on January 5. However, such highlights were sparse during his brief stint with the team.
