‘I’ve Never Been Released By a Teenager’ — NFL Legend Aaron Rodgers Take Shot at Jets Owner Woody Johnson Amid Recent Drama

Entering Week 17 of the 2024 NFL season, with abundant storylines across the league and teams battling for playoff positions, and even two games on Christmas Day, we’re talking about the Jets. To make matters worse, it’s not their on-field product making headlines, it’s their underperforming star QB Aaron Rodgers’ most recent remarks.

After an article on Jets owner Woody Johnson came out in The Athletic, the quarterback alluded to it and took a dig at Johnson.

Jets QB Aaron Rodgers Takes Jab at Ownership on ‘The Pat McAfee Show’

Jets fans might be used to this type of negative attention, as they have had one winning season since their last playoff appearance in 2010 (the longest active playoff drought in the league and tied for the seventh longest in NFL history). But even for the Jets faithful, it has to be getting a bit old.

Entering the season, NFL analysts not only predicted that Rodgers and the Jets would have a winning record in 2024 but saw this team as playoff hopefuls – and even contenders.

However, that is not what happened this season. After unceremoniously firing head coach Robert Saleh in early October, the Jets brought in another one of Rodgers’ cohorts in Davante Adams from the Las Vegas Raiders. 

Since firing Saleh (2-3 at that time), the Jets are 2-8 and are giving up over nine more points per game than they were before the firing. This all comes after GM Woody Johnson was quoted earlier this season saying that this roster is “…one of the most talented teams ever assembled by the New York Jets.”

As if things weren’t going bad enough for the Jets, Johnson has recently brought on more negative attention after The Athletic reported that his teenage sons have been given a platform in team settings, so much so that Johnson himself admitted that the opinions of his sons have influenced personnel decisions on the team. Why he admitted this, we’re not sure, but it has certainly called into question the chain of command in the organization.

Yesterday, on “The Pat McAfee Show,” Rodgers was asked about his future with the Jets, and whether he thought there was a possibility he’d get released. After a season that hasn’t gone as planned, Rodgers took a shot at ownership.

Completely unprompted, Rodgers responded: “Being released would be a first; being released by a teenager, that would also be a first. So, hey, I’m open to everything and I find the comedy in all of it. If that happens, hey, it’s a great story.”

#Jets QB Aaron Rodgers jokes about being released by the Owner’s teenage sons! @CBSNewYork @CBSSports #NFL pic.twitter.com/eCU423krCI

— Larry Ridley (@mrlarryridley) December 24, 2024

Good one, Aaron. Glib? Yes. Tongue in cheek? Sure. Is this what Jets fans want to hear from the man at the helm of their offense, who didn’t play in his first season with the team due to injury and currently boasts just four wins for the franchise? Doubtful.

But this is what we’ve come to expect from Rodgers, who has repeatedly misled the media with his commentary and come off tone-deaf in interviews, acting surly, sarcastic, and even downright rude to reporters in the past.

Despite the turmoil, Rodgers has made it clear that the Jets remain his “first option” if he chooses to return for a 21st season. He also reiterated his willingness to take a pay cut, saying, “I think I’ve already proven I’m willing to take a pay cut.”

However, reports suggest the Jets are leaning toward parting ways with the quarterback, with new leadership likely to influence that decision. With this much chaos reigning supreme for the Jets, a new direction might not be a bad idea.