After a busy start to the 2025 postseason, hiring a general manager and head coach, New York Jets owner Woody Johnson and the front office have another difficult decision ahead of them — determining the future of quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Let’s see what Johnson has said so far.
Woody Johnson on Aaron Rodgers’ Future
Johnson was asked on Monday (Jan. 27) whether Rodgers would be returning for the upcoming season. Johnson deferred this question to the Jets’ newest members, head coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey.
Johnson left the quarterback decision for Glenn and Mougey to decide. He welcomed the idea of bringing Rodgers back to lead the Jets again, though.
Woody Johnson was asked about his feeling regarding an Aaron Rodgers return: pic.twitter.com/YVvz0J9oTq
— Jets Videos (@snyjets) January 27, 2025
“Absolutely. If they want him back, Aaron’s a talent for sure. He’s a Hall of Famer,” said Johnson on whether he would be open to the idea of Rodgers returning.
Mougey and Glenn have a big decision to make regarding Rodgers. While Johnson has often contributed to the franchise’s decision-making process, he said he wouldn’t offer his insight into whether to keep Rodgers or move on.
A Tricky Decision
Rodgers only has one more year left on his current deal. He is not getting any younger and dealt with nagging injuries throughout last season. With a completely new regime, it would be unsurprising if they decide to move on from Rodgers.
He offers an interesting dilemma because of his pedigree in the NFL. It is no easy decision to move off a former four-time NFL MVP quarterback who threw for 3,897 yards and 29 touchdowns this season. While his counting stats looked pretty good, he ranked 21st in PFN’s QB+ metric with a grade of 72.2 or a C-.
The Jets acquired Rodgers’ favorite target, Davante Adams, from the Raiders midseason. Adams will likely be gone as well if Rodgers is not the quarterback next season. Garrett Wilson, who is up for a big extension, has had over 1,000 receiving yards in all three seasons and reportedly had chemistry issues with his quarterback.
The Jets’ offense wasn’t particularly prolific this season, even with all of their weapons. Gutting the offense and its weapons would be a dangerous risk. Losing Rodgers without a clear path to finding a franchise quarterback in the draft and a weak quarterback market helps the case for his return.
The final wrinkle in the decision is whether Rodgers is fully committed to playing next season. He was reportedly visibly emotional in the locker room after the Jets’ final game of the season, in which they defeated the Miami Dolphins. He was asked about the possibility of that being his last game in the NFL.
Rodgers responded, “Yeah, of course.”
While his decision to continue playing won’t guarantee his future with the Jets, it will be an important step in Glenn and Mougey’s decision-making process.
Why Glenn and Mougey Might Keep Rodgers
Robert Saleh’s tenure as Jets head coach can be labeled by poor quarterback play. Zach Wilson never lived up to be the star that the Jets hoped he would become. QB issues plagued Saleh and held the team back with one of the NFL’s best defenses. Eventually, the inability to win because of the offensive struggles cost him his job.
The new regime will want to avoid quarterback issues from the start. Keeping Rodgers around might be their best option, given their inability to get a top quarterback in the 2025 NFL Draft and the weak options on the market. Continuity with the offensive personnel could offer an advantage in adapting to a new staff.
Rodgers would offer a level of experience to any young QB that the Jets bring in. Jordan Travis, who spent all of last season injured, hasn’t had a chance to prove himself as the potential successor at QB. Whether Travis is expected to be the young QB that the Jets plan to develop or if it will be a new QB in the later rounds of the draft, having a future first-ballot Hall of Fame QB as a mentor is invaluable.
The potential for a lackluster offense with QB issues could incline Glenn and Mougey to keep Rodgers for one last season. While the offense wasn’t spectacular with Rodgers, the Jets have the weapons to make it click. If Glenn can get the defense back to its dominant form, the Jets’ offense will hold the keys to whether they succeed and win games next season, whether Rodgers is under center or not.