When the Green Bay Packers originally sold future Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets, he was hailed as the franchise’s saviour, ushering them out of nearly a decade of mediocrity and into the ranks of Super Bowl hopefuls.
Jordan Love, meanwhile, was questioned by the national media and many of his own team’s fans, just as Rodgers was when he replaced Brett Favre in 2008.
The trade occurred somewhat less than two years ago, and a lot has changed for both quarterbacks since then.
Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love and New York Jets star Aaron Rodgers have had two very different experiences since the trade.
Rodgers, of course, is out for the entire 2023 NFL season after tearing his Achilles four snaps into New York’s Week One game against the Buffalo Bills.
Despite a poor start in his debut year as a starter, Love led the Packers to a 9-8 record and a playoff spot. He had the finest first season as a starter in franchise history. Despite Rodgers’ health in 2024, the difference between the two remains significant.
Love leads the Packers to a 9-3 record, completing 63.0% of his throws for 2,518 yards, 20 touchdowns, 11 interceptions, and a passer rating of 95.8.
Rodgers and the Jets, on the other hand, are 3-9, with the four-time NFL MVP completing 62.5% of his throws for 2,627 yards, 19 touchdowns, eight interceptions, and a passer rating of 87.5.
The New York Jets plan to retain former Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. For now
Obviously, for a team to go 3-9, there must be a lot of things wrong. While Rodgers is not solely responsible for New York’s problems and late-game collapses, he has played a key influence. He played so poorly in Sunday’s loss to the Arizona Cardinals that many wondered whether it was his final game with the Jets.
Indeed, it was assumed that he would [eventually] be benched.
However, interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich announced today that Rodgers remains his starting quarterback, likely for the rest of the season.
According to Rich Cimini of ESPN, Ulbrich stated:
“Yes, he has done tremendous things. He’s done iconic, Hall of Fame-worthy things in this league, and I believe that’s always part of the conversation. Always.
“He is our quarterback.”
“Regardless of your age, he has faced many challenges. What he has is something that some players in this league may not have, so he’s a tough man with a strong sense of responsibility to his teammates. It’s why he comes out every week for us, and we believe that as he gets healthier and his mobility improves, you’ll see an even greater version of him.”
While Rodgers, who turned 41 today, may be the Jets’ starter for the rest of the season, the same cannot be said for 2025. According to increasing rumours, the general consensus within the company is that he will either retire or be released.
For his part, Rodgers has stated that if he decides to play in 2025, he wants to do so with the Jets.
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