Aaron Rodgers once told Adam Schefter to lose his number. Rodgers once told Pat McAfee he was planning to play for the New York Jets. Two years later, Schefter and McAfee are wondering whether Rodgers will continue to put up numbers and, if so, whether he’ll continue to put up numbers for the Jets.
“Have not talked to Aaron,” McAfee said Monday on the Pat McAfee Show. “Try to give him his space like we always do after the season. But the way he finished that season, there’s no way he’s walking away … There’s no way he’s just, ‘You know what? Yeah, I’m done.’ Especially with how the season went and all that (expletive) … It doesn’t feel like an Aaron Rodgers move is to walk away now. But once again, who knows?”
Overcoming a ruptured Achilles’ tendon that ended his first season in New York, Rodgers got off to a rough start in 2024. However, over his last 10 games, he finished with 18 touchdown passes and just four interceptions. The Jets also fired head coach Robert Saleh and demoted offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett during a 5-12 season. Overall, Rodgers started all 17 games and passed for 3,897 yards and 28 touchdowns with 11 interceptions. His 90.5 passer rating was the worst in his career over a full season.
Meanwhile, the Jets have hired general manager Darren Mougey and four coaches who would work directly with Rodgers, none of whom have worked with the quarterback previously: Head coach Aaron Glenn, offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand, quarterbacks coach Charles London and passing game coordinator Scott Turner. Schefter said the decision ultimately belongs to Rodgers.
“Aaron Glenn and Aaron Rodgers have to sit down and, No. 1, Aaron Rodgers first and foremost has to decide whether or not he wants to play, whether or not he wants to play in New York, whether or not he’s committed to going through all this again,” Schefter told McAfee on Monday. “And when that’s the case, then Aaron Glenn’s going to have a decision.
“Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey have a decision to make about what they want to do with their franchise. From a talent standpoint, there’s probably not a better option out there than Aaron Rodgers. And the guy still has it and he still can play. The question is what do they want to do as they’re rebuilding their organization? Is that a long-term play? Do they feel like there is a better fit for the organization to grow with? And those are questions I think that both sides have to answer with the input from one another as they sit down and talk about this issue moving forward.”
Rodgers said he’s willing to mentor a younger quarterback, a familiar position considering he spent his first three years in the NFL behind Hall of Famer Brett Favre and then spent three years in front of Jordan Love.
For more information on the Jets or the NFL hiring cycle, visit the N.Y. Jets team page and the Coach/GM Carousel page at ProFootballPost.com.
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