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 possible break up with Rodgers, the sources stated.
Rodgers, 41, has performed two seasons in New York that had been removed from perfect. 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 fan base. 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 crew fell out of playoff competition and he remained sidelined.
In 2024, the Jets’ woes went from unhealthy 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 go 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 score, his lowest in any season throughout which he performed a minimum of 15 video games. He additionally had 3,897 passing yards, 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
When requested about his Jets future after the tip of the season, Rodgers stated the crew’s impending coach and common supervisor hires could be main elements within the resolution.
“I believe all people 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 need to do a dance collectively or if it’s not within the playing cards,” Rodgers stated 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 unwell will he would possibly’ve had for Rodgers taking pictures at him publicly, he gave Glenn and Mougey leeway to resolve on their very own.
If Rodgers was going to return, it was solely going to work underneath a number of situations — particularly that Rodgers understood that no participant is above the crew, even him. If the Jets are totally making an attempt to go in a brand new route and construct for the long run, letting Rodgers go is essentially the most wise final result. Rodgers is due a major roster bonus if he returns, which might make it dearer to maintain him (for 2025 and past) than do away with him.
Rodgers statistically had among the best quarterback seasons in crew 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. Anticipate vast receivers Davante Adams and Allen Lazard to comply with 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 robust draft or free-agency class. Former Jet Sam Darnold would be the high free agent and perhaps he’d think about returning however that feels unlikely at this juncture. Kirk Cousins will possible 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 might take a swing at any person like Justin Fields, or commerce for Detroit Lions backup Hendon Hooker — who has ties to the Jets teaching employees — however neither possibility would point out the Jets needs to be taken critically 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)