Aaron Rodgers on Jets, NFL future: 'I don't even know if I want to play yet'

Aaron Rodgers on Jets, NFL future: ‘I don’t even know if I want to play yet’

Posted by Admin November 26, 2024 NFL

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The New York Jets had their bye in Week 12 after losing seven of their previous eight games, most recently a 28-27 loss to the Indianapolis Colts at home.

That game dropped the team to 3-8 and, after Week 12’s games, New York has a 2% chance of making the postseason, according to NFL.com’s playoff probability model. They’re four games back from the current No. 7 seed Denver Broncos, who have already beaten the Jets, with six games left to go.

It’s hard to imagine the team turning things around in that time under interim coach Jeff Ulbrich. Fans can look ahead to the 2025 NFL Draft and the subsequent season.

One question mark could be quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who appeared on ESPN’s “Pat McAfee Show” Tuesday. He addressed his future with the team amid rumors that he may retire or the team could cut him, the latter reported by The Athletic’s Diana Russini.

“As far as my future goes, I haven’t told anybody in my life that I want to play in 2025 and not on the Jets,” Rodgers said. “That’s 100% false. I actually said the opposite. I said that I’m going to wait and see what happens at the end of the season and if they want me back.

“I came here to win here. So I’m not jumping off ship, like ‘oh, I definitely want to play and not in New York.’ Like I don’t even know if I want to play yet but New York would be my first option.”

The Jets have had a tumultuous 2024 NFL season. They fired head coach Robert Saleh in October after a Week 5 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. They traded for Davante Adams – Rodgers’ longtime teammate and friend – a week later but have won one game since. Ahead of the Week 12 bye, New York fired general manager Joe Douglas.

The team has an interim head coach in Ulbrich and an interim general manager in former Cleveland Browns GM Phil Savage. That means there is plenty up in the air ahead of the 2025 offseason.

“I’m going to wait and see what happens at the end of the season and if they want me back,” Rodgers said. “What happens with [Ulbrich] and what happens with the offensive staff and obviously the GM… There’s a lot of things out of my control when it comes to that but I’ve really enjoyed my time in New York.

“I mean, we obviously haven’t had the success that we’ve all wanted to have but I’ve made some great friendships on the team. I’ve enjoyed living in Jersey, I’ve enjoyed time in the city, I’ve enjoyed getting to know the fans.”

Aaron Rodgers contract details

Rodgers agreed to a three-year, $112.5 million deal with New York after being traded from Green Bay in the 2023 offseason.

He has a dead cap hit of $66.1 million this season if cut, per Spotrac. According to OverTheCap, he holds a $23.5 million cap hit for next season with a $49 million dead cap hit if he’s cut before June 1, 2025.

Can the Jets trade Aaron Rodgers?

Not until after this season, and only if the 40-year-old quarterback agrees to a deal as his contract included a no-trade clause. He would have to agree on any deal and waive that clause in order for the Jets to trade him out of New York.

Aaron Rodgers stats

Rodgers is on pace for his worst season as a full-time starter in the NFL. Through Week 12, he’s completed 241 of 380 passes for 2,442 yards, 17 touchdowns, and seven interceptions.

His passer rating of 88.9 would be a career-worst. His current yards per game (222.0) and touchdown rate (4.5%) figures would be the second-worst of his career as well.

Week 13: vs. Seattle Seahawks (6-5)
Week 14: at Miami Dolphins (5-6)
Week 15: at Jacksonville Jaguars (2-9)
Week 16: vs. Los Angeles Rams (5-6)
Week 17: at Buffalo Bills (9-2)
Week 18: vs. Miami Dolphins (5-6)