The Aaron Rodgers era in New York will be remembered as one that fell far short of expectations.
While Rodgers was far from the only person to blame for the failed experiment, most fans will remember him as the poster boy for the debacle.
In many ways, his terribly unlucky Achilles injury four offensive plays into the 2023 helped ruin his entire tenure with Gang Green.
However, the Jets still entered the 2024 season with Super Bowl hopes. While he was far from the only underachiever, Rodgers’ performance was anything but championship-caliber.
In his only (full) year as the Jets’ starting quarterback, he posted a disappointing 5-12 record, earning more attention for his off-field behavior than his on-field play.
Jets’ owner Woody Johnson, who played a key role in bringing Rodgers to New York, clarified that he wasn’t the driving force behind letting the future Hall of Famer walk out the door.
Johnson revealed that the decision was made by new head coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey, marking the end of an experiment that ultimately failed miserably.
“The experiment was a good experiment it just didn’t work out,” Johnson said. “I have a lot of respect for Aaron Rodgers and I’m sorry it didn’t work out but we had to make a choice. And I think we made the right choice.”
Rodgers’ lone season in New York saw him throw for 3,897 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. Despite his individual stats, the Jets finished with a lackluster record, landing the No. 7 pick in the upcoming NFL Draft.
The Jets went all in on Rodgers during his short tenure, making significant moves to accommodate him. Nathaniel Hackett, a former Rodgers coordinator in Green Bay, was kept as offensive coordinator despite other more promising candidates available.
Additionally, the Jets brought in several of Rodgers’ former Packers teammates, including Randall Cobb, Allen Lazard, and Davante Adams, in an effort to replicate the success they once shared in Green Bay.
However, the plan backfired.
The Jets failed to find success with the Rodgers-led offense, resulting in the midseason firings head coach Robert Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas.
Despite Rodgers’ efforts to force-feed targets to Adams, the results didn’t translate to a winning record.
Now a free agent, Rodgers has been linked to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the only team showing interest in making him their starting quarterback for the upcoming season.
Meanwhile, former Steelers quarterback Justin Fields will take the reins for the Jets, having signed a two-year, $40 million deal.
What are your thoughts on Woody’s comments? … Where do you rank the Rodgers Jets tenure among the worst failures in recent memory???
