The New York Jets are at a crossroads with quarterback Aaron Rodgers. After a lackluster 5-12 season, firing head coach Robert Saleh midway, the franchise is looking for a fresh start with new HC Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey in the driving seat.
The biggest question looming over New York’s offseason is whether or not to have a fresh start in the QB department. Glenn and Mougey have to make the hard decision over the four-time MVP quarterback.
Jeff Saturday Advises New Jets HC To Assess What Aaron Rodgers Brings to Table
Former Indianapolis Colts head coach Jeff Saturday weighed in on the dilemma, keeping in mind whether Rodgers can help shape the culture Glenn and Mougey want to establish.
Saturday raised the issue during an appearance on ESPN’s “Get Up,” saying, “He has to decide: Is the culture that you want set in your organization going to be lifted by Aaron Rodgers?…as opposed to going out and finding whatever new quarterback is going to have to come in and build a culture with.”
Will Aaron Rodgers return as Jets quarterback under new head coach Aaron Glenn?@ESPNGreeny, @SaturdayJeff and @Foxworth24 weigh in ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/YL9MgsvgEp
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) January 28, 2025
That’s the heart of the debate.
Rodgers is undeniably one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, but at 41 years old, he’s coming off an Achilles injury and a forgetful 2024 season. Franchise owner Woody Johnson made it clear that the decision will be left to the new HC and GM, though he did say he would “absolutely” welcome Rodgers back if they choose to keep him.
Glenn and Mougey, meanwhile, are taking their time evaluating the roster. The former confirmed that he had already communicated with Rodgers but stopped short of making any guarantees.
“Aaron Rodgers will be talked about,” Glenn said. “We’ve already texted that communication with Aaron Rodgers. And as we continue to look at the roster, we’ll make decisions accordingly. And that’s with a number of people on the team.”
Mougey seconded his HC’s sentiment saying, “Aaron has his process, we want to respect that. I’ve got so much respect for Aaron and what he’s done as a player in this league. And we’ll have our process. I landed less than 24 hours ago. I was struggling to find my office this morning, so we’ve got a lot to do, but we look forward to that, and it’ll come at some time.”
If New York’s front office does decide to move on from Rodgers, their options are limited. The free agent QB market is uninspiring, with names like Justin Fields, Sam Darnold, and Russell Wilson offering little in terms of long-term stability.
The 2025 NFL Draft presents another challenge. New York holds the No. 7 pick, which likely puts them out of reach for top quarterback prospects Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward unless they trade up.
If the Tennessee Titans opt for a non-quarterback, such as Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter at No. 1, the Jets could attempt to jump the Las Vegas Raiders and potentially even the New York Giants in a trade.
For now, Rodgers’ future with the Jets remains one of the biggest storylines of the offseason.