Jets QB Aaron Rodgers says he needs ‘a break mentally’ before deciding on future

The Jets will play their final game of the season against the Dolphins this weekend.

However, this week, the focus has been on Aaron Rodgers and his possible future with the Jets or with another organization in 2025.

During his availability on Wednesday, Rodgers sounded like he knows his days with the Jets are likely numbered.

“Just a lot of gratitude for the last 20 years and the countless lives I’ve encountered and the amazing teammates and coaches I now call friends,” Rodgers said. “Experiences I’ve had, great memories and the amount of great people that impacted my life.

“I’m not thinking about that on game day, I’ll just be enjoying this. It’s been a long career I’m really proud of. What I’ve been a part of and what I’ve accomplished. Also looking forward to a nice mental and physical rest.”

When the Jets acquired Rodgers, 41, in April of 2023, the team dreamed of bringing a second Lombardi Trophy to the organization. The 2023 season was a wash for the Jets after Rodgers tore his Achilles, four plays into the debut and the team finished 7-10.

With Rodgers returning from his injury, the Jets were favorites to win the AFC East and to contend for a Super Bowl. However, the four-time NFL MVP has battled hamstring, knee, and ankle injuries at various points this season. The Jets have been eliminated from playoff contention since Dec. 8 and are currently 4-12.

In addition to that, Rodgers hasn’t played up to his usual standard. He is 25th out of 33 qualified passers in Total QBR (48.3) with 24 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Rodgers also has a career-low of 6.6 yards per passing attempt.

Despite his lack of success since joining the Jets, Rodgers says he appreciates the organization.

“It’s been the best two years of my life,” Rodgers said. “That’s a perspective adjustment that happened, I think, at some point during the rehab process last year, but just the excitement,” Rodgers said. “Falling back in love with the game, getting to know these guys in here, getting to know the great men and women that work here, been a lot of fun.

“It’s obviously, on the field has been short of expectations, no doubt, but this game is more than just that. This game is about the relationships, about the things that really last longer than this, last longer than your health does, and lasts longer than your body being able to play, so I’m really thankful for the men and women I met here in New Jersey, and the experiences I got to have with my teammates and enjoy the city. Obviously, wish things would have gotten better on the field, but nothing but gratitude for this time in my life.”

With a new regime coming to the Jets, it is not Rodgers’ decision whether he returns in 2025. Gang Green will have a new coach and general manager after owner Woody Johnson fired Robert Saleh and Joe Douglas during the season.

Rodgers is under contract for 2025, but his salary is not guaranteed. If the Jets were to bring him back, they would have to exercise a $35 million option bonus before the start of the 2025 season and Rodgers would count $23.5 million against the salary cap.

If Rodgers retires or if he’s cut, the Jets have a $49 million dead cap hit. The $49 million could be spread over two years by designating him a post-June 1 release — $14 million in 2025 and $35 million in 2026. During an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show last week, Rodgers joked about the idea of getting cut by one of Johnson’s teenage sons.

Rodgers could also retire from football altogether. The last time he contemplated retirement after his 2022 season with the Packers, Rodgers went on a darkness retreat in southern Oregon. He eventually decided to continue playing, facilitating his trade to the Jets days before the 2023 NFL Draft.

This time, Rodgers says he will take his time before deciding whether to continue playing or to retire.

“Probably darkness again, no, I think I’m done with that,” Rodgers joked. “I won’t be doing any darkness retreats this offseason. Whether you’re in the midst of your career, you’re a young player, middle of your career, whatever it is, you always need that break.

“This feels a lot like, after kind of a rookie year I would say, because a rookie year you go from training, and playing a season, and training the entire offseason, getting ready for the combine, then going to a new team, so there’s not normally any break. I’ve talked to, I remember Jordy Nelson got hurt a couple years in a row, and David Bakhtiari had like three years in a row of rehab, and I think you have to, until you’ve experienced the grind mentally and physically that as you can’t quite relate, but now that I have,

“I just need a break mentally to kind of refresh, and put my feet in the sand, and see where I’m at after that, but I think, to your question, March is free agency, I don’t think we’re even going to get that far, just because there’s going to be a regime change here, at least with the GM, and then whatever they end up doing I’m sure I’ll either get a call or have a conversation, and go from there.”

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