Aaron Rodgers believes his football career speaks for itself.
The New York Jets quarterback doesn’t feel the need to use the final games of the season to prove his worth to the team or show that he should return next year. He thinks it’s “ridiculous” to think that way.
“If they want me to stay, fantastic,” Rodgers said Wednesday. “If it takes these five games, maybe they don’t know what I bring to the table.
“But that being said I’d love to play really friggin’ well the last five games.”
Rodgers, who turned 41 on Monday, has faced challenges with both his performance and injuries while the Jets have started the season with a 3-9 record.
He has struggled with leg injuries, including a sprained ankle, a sore knee, and a tweaked hamstring, throughout the season. However, after the bye week, he felt healthier than he had in weeks. Despite that, he was inconsistent in a 26-21 loss to Seattle and couldn’t lead the Jets to a winning drive on their final possession.
Some people thought the Jets might bench Rodgers in favor of Tyrod Taylor to try to boost the offense. But instead, interim coach Jeff Ulbrich said Rodgers would remain the starting quarterback as long as he’s healthy. Rodgers also said during his weekly appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Tuesday that his goal is to finish the season playing on the field, even though the team has a poor record.
“That’s what you do when you’re a professional and the most important ability you can have is availability, which I wasn’t available last year,” Rodgers said Wednesday, referring to his torn Achilles tendon injury just four snaps into his Jets debut. “So I’d love to play the games and I love playing football. I’m hyper-competitive and I love to be out there with the guys.”
He didn’t use his injuries as an excuse for his subpar performance this season, saying he feels healthy enough to play when he’s on the field. Though Rodgers has thrown for 2,627 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions, his 6.3 yards-per-pass attempt is the lowest of his career as a starter.
Rodgers had mentioned a few weeks ago that he would like to play next year but recently said he wasn’t sure. He said his health would be a big factor in his decision. If he chooses to play in 2025, the Jets would be his first choice.
There’s uncertainty about whether the Jets will want him back next season as they look to rebuild with a new general manager and coach after the firings of Joe Douglas and Robert Saleh. Rodgers said some people have told him they hope he’ll return, but “not the people who are making those decisions.”
That comment got a few laughs, but Rodgers said there would be discussions at some point to figure out his next move.
“I just redid my house here in Jersey,” Rodgers said. “My goal was to play a few more years here, but we’ll see. I’d like to be healthy, I’d like to end on my feet and then I’d like to play well and I’d like to feel like I’m wanted back. If not, again, I will not be offended. I won’t be upset. I’ll be so thankful, either way whatever happens here.
“But I’ve got to be healthy mentally, physically, and then there’s got to be interest on both sides. And if that’s not the case, then I’ll look at other options. But first, I’ll think about whether I’d actually want to play or not, but it usually takes a good month to get away from it, which I’ll do the first month and then we’ll see what happens.”
During his appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show,” Rodgers spoke about the Detroit Lions, who were 3-13-1 in Dan Campbell’s first year as coach in 2021, but are now tied with Kansas City for the best record in the NFL at 11-1. He pointed to the Lions’ success as an example of a team that benefited from patient and supportive ownership.
After practice Wednesday, Rodgers was asked about his comments and whether he thinks the Jets have been similarly supportive.
“Is that a rhetorical question?” he responded before explaining he was just giving an example. He also mentioned seeing both support and lack of it during his 18 years in Green Bay.
When asked if he felt there was support from Jets ownership, Rodgers said: “I’d have to look. I don’t follow a lot of stuff. I’d have to ask you guys: Has there been a lot of public, supportive comments?”
A reporter mentioned the Jets’ coach and GM firings.
“Yeah,” Rodgers said, “so there’s your answer.”
