Throughout most of the 2024 NFL season, Aaron Rodgers has made comments that indicated his uncertainty over returning in 2025, whether with the New York Jets or elsewhere.
He even presented some concessions that could allow him to return to the Jets.
Rodgers made his weekly appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show,” where he was asked about the Jets possibly drafting a young quarterback next year as they look toward the future. Rodgers has experienced that scenario on both sides; first as a young quarterback drafted when the Green Bay Packers already had Brett Favre, then as a veteran when the Packers drafted Jordan Love.
Playing the role of mentor could certainly make the Jets amenable to bringing Rodgers back. However, it was his next statement that likely generated even more positive vibes at Jets headquarters, in a season in which those have been few and far between.
“As far as pay cuts, I think I’ve already proven I’m willing to take a pay cut. I’ve made a ton of money,” said Rodgers. Then he mentioned the contracts signed by him and wide receiver Davante Adams. “There’s cap numbers that would need to be worked around if they wanted to bring us both back.”
Rodgers and Adams are close, but it’s unlikely that the receiver was happy to hear his quarterback volunteering him to also take a pay cut. The big takeaway is that Rodgers is willing to put the team before himself by mentoring and/or restructuring his deal to return to New York in 2025, if he returns to football at all.
Rodgers also reiterated in the interview that he’s undecided on playing next season, and the Jets haven’t told him their plans for the quarterback position in 2025. The latter is certainly understandable as the team fired its head coach and general manager in-season, so they are working with interims in both roles. Those two positions would have the most say on whether Rodgers returns next year, so one shouldn’t expect any news on his 2025 status until the Jets make some organizational hires.
The quarterback made the comments one day after another Jets loss, this time 19-9 to the Los Angeles Rams, but it was also a game in which Rodgers and Adams displayed why the Jets might want to bring them back next season. The two connected on Adams’s fifth touchdown reception over the last four games, their 82nd touchdown connection. That moved them up the all-time list, tying them with Dan Marino and Mark Clayton for the third-most in NFL history between a quarterback and receiver.
Rodgers finished the game with 256 passing yards and that one touchdown, with no interceptions. He’s played much better in the second half of the season and has a touchdown-to-interception ratio that’s on par with his prime days in Green Bay. After having 10 touchdowns versus seven picks over his first seven games, Rodgers has turned back the clock and has 14 touchdowns and just one interception over his last eight games.
