It was said ahead of this past weekend that the New York Jets were “planning” to bring quarterback Aaron Rodgers back for the 2025 season.
After the Jets fell to 3-8 on the campaign via a 28-27 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, a different report noted that Rodgers wanted team owner Woody Johnson to hold onto interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich and general manager Joe Douglas. Johnson then dismissed Douglas on Tuesday, and NFL/Jets insider Connor Hughes of SNY subsequently reported it is now his “understanding” that the “organization does prefer a change at quarterback” following this season.
Hughes added that “Rodgers had absolutely nothing to do with” the Jets firing Douglas on Tuesday or Johnson parting ways with former head coach Robert Saleh last month when New York was 2-3.
The Jets acquired Rodgers from the Green Bay Packers in the spring of 2023, believing he was the missing piece who would, at the very least, help the club end what became the longest active playoff drought in the four major North American sports leagues. However, he suffered a torn Achilles just four offensive snaps into his first official game with the Jets, and his play this season has left much to be desired.
Per Pro Football Reference, Rodgers ended Week 11 ranked 27th in the NFL among qualified players with a 50.7 QBR and 23rd with a 43.8% passing success rate for the campaign. According to ESPN stats, the Jets are 26th in the league, with an average of 18.5 points scored per game.
Additionally, whispers and certain reports have suggested Rodgers hasn’t always been a positive locker-room influence throughout his Jets tenure.
Whoever becomes Douglas’ full-time replacement this winter can use some clever bookkeeping to get rid of Rodgers if the veteran, who turns 41 years old next month, doesn’t retire before the new league year opens in March. Suppose Rodgers wants to continue playing but has learned the Jets will go in a different direction during the upcoming offseason. In that case, it’s possible he and the team could agree that backup Tyrod Taylor should start through Week 18 so that the future Hall of Famer can stay healthy enough to sign with a different club after Super Bowl LIX.
