The Aaron Rodgers era for the New York Jets will be looked back on in history as one to forget - or one to remember if you enjoy looking back at dumpster fires.
After Super Bowl expectations and aspirations heading into 2024, Rodgers went 5-12 in his lone season as a starter, making more headlines for off-the-field antics than he did for on-the-field play.
Jets' owner Woody Johnson, who was instrumental in bringing Rodgers in to town before a long history of feuding with the self-proclaimed "enigma" claims he wasn't behind the decision to led Rodgers become a free agent.
Johnson said it was new head coach Aaron Glenn and new general manager Darren Mougey who decided to go a different direction.
"The experiment was a good experiment it just didn't work out," Johnson said, via The Athletic's Zack Rosenblatt on X. "I have a lot of respect for Aaron Rodgers and I'm sorry it didn't work out but we had to make a choice. And I think we made the right choice."
In his lone full season with the Jets, Rodgers threw for 3,897 yards, 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, leading the Jets to the No. 7 pick in this year's NFL Draft.
The Jets bent over backwards for Rodgers in his New York tenure, bringing in and keeping on Nathaniel Hackett as offensive coordinator over more deserving and promising candidates. The Jets also acquired a number of Rodgers' former teammates from Green Bay, including Randall Cobb, Allen Lazard, and most recently, Davante Adams.
Related: Rodgers' Private Workout D.K. Reveled Amid Steelers Worries
The rag-tag group of former Packers couldn't get it done, resulting in Hackett, Robert Saleh, and Joe Douglas being dismissed mid-season. Adams and Rodgers were allowed to finish off the season, and Rodgers' gameplay of force-feeding Adams didn't translate to winning at a higher rate.
Rodgers is now a free agent, and has been heavily linked with the Pittsburgh Steelers, who seem to be the only team considering Rodgers as their starting quarterback heading into next season. Meanwhile, a former Steeler, Justin Fields, will be under center for the Jets heading into next season with his new two-year, $40 million contract.
Related: Jets' 'Silence' Approach To Offseason 'By Design'
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This story was originally published April 2, 2025 at 6:52 AM.