All signs point to legendary head coach Bill Belichick returning to the sidelines in 2025.
All signs also point to 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers continuing his Hall of Fame career. However, there are some who have their doubts about that.
Regardless, one thing we know about those two prominent football figures is that they’ve always had a ton of mutual respect for each other.
Rodgers’ shocking decline this season is well-documented.
While the Jets’ nightmare 2024 campaign is certainly not all Rodgers’ fault, the majority of the blame is predictably falling on him.
However, Belichick was quick to point out that it would be foolish to stick a fork in the four-time MVP just yet.
“[Rodgers] could easily rebound from that and be ready to play and have a good year next year,” Belichick told Jim Gray on the Let’s Go! podcast.
“You look at all the quarterbacks in the league that are kind of on their second teams and they’re doing pretty well, Russell Wilson and Geno Smith and [Sam] Darnold, Baker Mayfield, you go right down the line, [Matthew] Stafford for that matter, Jared Goff.
“These guys that switch teams, they get in a different system, things are a little bit different for them, maybe they learn some things from whatever it was their previous experiences were. It changes.
“When a guy has a long career and a good career, sometimes one season is just a bump in the road. It’s not necessarily the end of the road.”
For some, Belichick’s words sparked questions about what exactly his personal future holds.
Many insiders are wondering if Belichick and Rodgers could potentially team-up together in 2025.
Belichick also addressed the broader challenge of determining when it’s time for a player to move on.
Reflecting on his own missteps – most notably parting ways with Tom Brady in 2020 – Belichick noted how injuries can complicate evaluations of aging players.
“I think that’s one of the toughest things to do as a coach in professional football, is to figure out when that right time is or isn’t,” he continued.
“One thing you run into sometimes with players as they age in their career is the injury factor. And sometimes players can have an injury at the later point in their career and make it look like maybe it’s an age problem when actually it was an injury problem.
“And then once that injury clears up, then there’s a lot more good football left in that player.”
Belichick shared the example of former Patriots safety Rodney Harrison, who joined New England at age 30 and thrived after being written off by his former team.
“I think that was kind of the case with Rodney Harrison,” he said. “Rodney Harrison in San Diego was really a tough football player. He is very, very competitive. So he played through an injury, didn’t have a great year.
“And then when we signed him at New England he was healthy and he had multiple great years and helped us win Super Bowls.”
As for Rodgers, it’s clear that he’s not nearly the same quarterback he was with the Packers. That part is obvious.
What’s also obvious is that he’s taking a much harsher beating behind Gang Green’s current offensive line than he ever did in Green Bay.
While his arm talent is still top-level, there are rumblings that the Jets’ inability to properly block for Rodgers has gotten in his head and affected his performance.
There’s also reports that he’s playing through multiple injuries that are much worse than people realize.
Rodgers certainly has an army of doubters. However, as Belichick said, if put in the right situation and environment, he can still play at a Pro Bowl level.
We all know Belichick wants to break the NFL’s all-time wins record. We also know Rodgers doesn’t want his final football chapter to be THIS.
What are the chances the two team-up together in 2025?
Belichick’s hatred for Woody Johnson and the Jets organization is well-know. So, this potential partnership would have to happen elsewhere.
Can you see the two legends teaming up for a happy ending? … Perhaps with Belichick’s beloved New York Giants???
