By Dianna Russini, Zack Rosenblatt and Jenna West
The New York Jets are anticipated to maneuver on from quarterback Aaron Rodgers, league sources inform The Athletic.
When the Jets met with teaching candidates this winter, they mentioned what the group ought to do with Rodgers. Staff co-owner Woody Johnson listened to the suggestions from the present teaching employees, which incorporates newly employed head coach Aaron Glenn, prompting the seemingly cut up with Rodgers, the sources mentioned.
Rodgers, 41, has performed two seasons in New York that had been removed from excellent. In April 2023, he got here to the Jets in a shocking commerce with the Inexperienced Bay Packers, the place he spent 18 seasons, sparking hope within the Jets fanbase. Nevertheless, Rodgers tore his Achilles on the fourth play of New York’s season opener that fall, ending his season and starting a principally doomed tenure in New York.
The Jets went 7-10 as Rodgers labored to return late within the season, however the workforce fell out of playoff rivalry and he remained sidelined.
In 2024, the Jets’ woes went from dangerous to worse when the franchise fired head coach Robert Saleh after a 2-3 begin to the season. They promoted defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich to move coach, however he couldn’t spark the struggling Jets, who completed at 5-12 on the yr.
Rodgers performed all 17 video games in 2024 however completed with a 90.5 passer ranking, his lowest in any season throughout which he performed at the very least 15 video games. He additionally had 3,897 passing yards, 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
When requested about his Jets future after the top of the season, Rodgers mentioned the workforce’s impending coach and common supervisor hires could be major elements within the resolution.
“I feel everyone understands that it’s gonna come all the way down to a GM and a coach and myself and whether or not all of us wish to do a dance collectively or if it’s not within the playing cards,” Rodgers mentioned in early January.
How did we get right here?
It has felt just like the Jets and Rodgers had been headed for a divorce since lengthy earlier than they employed the brand new regime of Glenn and common supervisor Darren Mougey. Rodgers has publicly and privately expressed his discontent with how Johnson dealt with himself all through the 2024 season. To Johnson’s credit score, regardless of any in poor health will he may’ve had for Rodgers taking photographs at him publicly, he gave Glenn and Mougey leeway to determine on their very own.
If Rodgers was going to return, it was solely going to work below just a few circumstances — specifically that Rodgers understood that no participant is above the workforce, even him. If the Jets are absolutely making an attempt to go in a brand new path and construct for the long run, letting Rodgers go is probably the most wise consequence. Rodgers is due a major roster bonus if he returns, which might make it costlier to maintain him (for 2025 and past) than do away with him.
Rodgers statistically had among the finest quarterback seasons in workforce historical past in 2024, although that didn’t inform the entire story — he was wildly inconsistent, is popping 42 in 2025 and doesn’t match their timeline anymore. Count on broad receivers Davante Adams and Allen Lazard to observe Rodgers out the door. — Zack Rosenblatt, Jets beat author
What’s subsequent for the Jets?
The choices aren’t particularly interesting. Veteran Tyrod Taylor and injured 2024 draft decide Jordan Travis are the one quarterbacks on the roster and it’s not thought-about a very sturdy draft or free-agency class. Former Jet Sam Darnold would be the prime free agent and perhaps he’d contemplate returning however that feels unlikely at this juncture. Kirk Cousins will seemingly break away from the Atlanta Falcons in some trend however he’s turning 37 and coming off his worst season, benched for Michael Penix Jr.
The Jets may take a swing at any individual like Justin Fields, or commerce for Detroit Lions backup Hendon Hooker — who has ties to the Jets teaching employees — however neither choice would point out the Jets ought to be taken significantly as playoff contenders this season. The Jets have the No. 7 draft decide, which is out of the vary of the highest quarterback prospects on this class, too. — Rosenblatt
Required studying
(Picture: Vincent Carchietta / Imagn Pictures)