When the Green Bay Packers decided to move Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets after a disastrous 2022 season, they faced widespread criticism from the national media, opposing fans, and their own fan base. After all, Jordan Love was not an established NFL quarterback, and his one start in 2021 left much to be desired.
However, the Packers invested their 2020 first-round pick on Love with the expectation that he would eventually replace the future Pro Football Hall of Famer. Despite winning the NFL MVP Award in 2020 and 2021, it was clear that Rodgers’ time in Green Bay was limited.
The Green Bay Packers choose to trade Aaron Rodgers. Following the 2022 NFL season.
As previously said, the 2022 season was poor for the Packers. After winning 13 games in each of the previous three seasons, Green Bay finished 8-9 that year, with Rodgers having his worst season to date. He completed 64.6% of his passes, totaling 3,695 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions with a passer rating of 91.1.
While those figures are not awful for an NFL quarterback, they are considerably below the level that Rodgers established for himself with his outstanding performance during the previous 14 seasons.
When general manager Brian Gutekunst attempted to contact his franchise quarterback during the offseason to discuss their future, he was unable to reach him. Rodgers later attributed the incident to bad cell service at his home, claiming Gutekunst could have FaceTimed him instead.
Regardless, his declining productivity and strained relationship with the front office prompted both sides to conclude that their time together was over. While the star quarterback was clearly upset with Gutekunst, he spoke favourably of the organization as a whole. For their part, the Packers traded him to his desired destination, the Jets.
When the trade was first announced, many assumed the Packers were embarking on a long rebuild, but the Jets were taking the next step toward Super Bowl contention. Those who thought this way were mistaken on both counts.
Love guided the Packers to a 9-8 record and seventh spot in the NFC playoffs, including an upset victory over the Dallas Cowboys in the Wild Card round.
Rodgers, as everyone knows, played four plays in 2023 before sustaining a torn Achilles. New York finished 7-10, disappointed with another losing season.
But for New York, 2024 was bound to be different. Rodgers was back and healthy, and they had a host of high-profile free agents and draft picks ready to back him up and help them break their 13-year playoff drought.
However, this season has not been particularly successful.
The Jets sacked head coach Robert Saleh after a 2-3 start, and he has since joined Matt LaFleur’s Green Bay staff as an advisor. After going 1-5 after the firing, New York severed ways with general manager Joe Douglas.
For his part, Rodgers is having an even worse season than he did in 2022, his final season with the Packers. He presently has a 63.4% completion rate, 2,442 passing yards, 17 touchdowns, seven interceptions, and a career low passer rating of 88.9.
According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, Rodgers still intends to play in 2025, when he will be 42 years old, despite his terrible season. He simply does not want to play for New York.
According to the same story, the Jets may not even want him to finish this season:
Former Green Bay Packers Quarterback Aaron Rodgers May Not Finish 2024 with the Jets.
It’s unclear where Rodgers will play in 2025. He is unlikely to want to be part of a rebuild, but few competitive teams require a quarterback, particularly one as demanding and controversial as Rodgers.
However, the fact that he was cut in 2024 demonstrates how far his career has gone. While he has given Packers supporters several memorable moments, he has not done the same for Jets fans.
The National Football League is a harsh business.
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