If Aaron Rodgers is going to suit up for a 21st NFL season, it won’t be as a member of the New York Jets.
After reports surfaced on Sunday that the two sides were expected to part ways, the Jets officially announced that they would be moving in a different direction at quarterback on Thursday.
“Last week we met with Aaron and shared that our intention was to move in a different direction at quarterback,” said head coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey in a statement released by the team. “It was important to have this discussion now to provide clarity and enable each of us the proper time to plan for our respective futures. We want to thank him for the leadership, passion, and dedication he brought to the organization and wish him success moving forward.”
Rodgers, the fifth player in NFL history to throw 500 touchdown passes in the regular season, has one year of non-guaranteed money left on his contract with the Jets. He would count $23.5 million against the salary cap.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Thursday that the team will likely release Rodgers after June 1 to manage the cap hit. If Rodgers is cut or retires, the Jets could absorb a $49 million dead money charge next season unless they designate him a post-June 1 cut and can spread that charge over two years.
After spending his first 18 seasons with the Green Bay Packers, Rodgers was traded to the Jets in April 2023.
His first season in New York was cut short just four snaps into his debut because of a torn left Achilles tendon. He worked his way back and was able to play this season — and start every game — but the results on the field were inconsistent.
While his 28 touchdown passes and 3,897 yards passing both rank third for a single season in franchise history, Rodgers was not the dynamic playmaker he once was.
He had a vintage Rodgers-like performance in his final game with the Jets, throwing a season-high four touchdown passes in a win over Miami on Jan. 5. But those types of moments in his short tenure with New York were few and far between.