The New York Jets thought that trading for four-time NFL MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers was going to put their roster over the top and into postseason contention. Unfortunately, the future Pro Football Hall of Famer tore his Achilles in their first game of the 2023 NFL season, and the Jets had to wait to see if trading for a 40-year-old quarterback, even one with the resume Rodgers has, was worth it.
Rodgers is back in 2024, attempting to return from an injury that has ended the careers of much younger players. Going into the season, Rodgers admitted the harsh truth that he needs to be successful in order to stick around.
After the Jets’ Week Five loss to the Minnesota Vikings in London, many are not sure that he has done enough to earn coming back.
NFL Fans Call for New York Jets Quarterback Aaron Rodgers to Retire
In a game that saw Rodgers become the ninth player ever with 60,000 career passing yards, it also saw the future Hall of Famer have one of his worst games in recent memory.
Rodgers completed 29/54 passes for 244 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions. He also had a passer rating of 54.9.
With less than a minute left in the game, he threw a pass to Mike Williams that was intercepted by Stephon Gilmore that sealed the game for Minnesota.
All throughout the game, fans on social media were calling on Rodgers to retire:
Aaron Rodgers with 3 interceptions in London pic.twitter.com/yssxAS2WKa
— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) October 6, 2024
Aaron Rodgers doesn’t have a family but it’s time to go be a family man
— semaJ (@semaJ7272) October 6, 2024
What should never be forgotten is that Aaron Rodgers was 90% retired, locked himself in a dark house for a few days and had a revelation that he wanted to play for the Jets.
— Jimmy Traina (@JimmyTraina) October 6, 2024
Aaron Rodgers is only struggling because he found out on the flight to London that the earth isn’t flat
Send tweet
— Chris Towers is In Baseball Offseason Mode (@CPTowers) October 6, 2024
the Aaron Rodgers glazing week after week is getting so old
throws multiple interceptions: “he knows that to win this game he has to keep the ball bc he can make it happen”
blatantly refuses to talk to his team on sideline: “he’s a great leader for this offense”
🤡
— tay (@tayylorrmaee) October 6, 2024
I am not sure why the announcers keep putting the lack of chemistry on the WRs….Aaron Rodgers was the one that missed mandatory minicamp to go to Egypt.
— DMac Wake (@DMacWake316) October 6, 2024
Sad thing is Aaron Rodgers can’t even go be a family man. He just gotta go back to his Cabin on shutter island
— Le5-6 (@deepyy_) October 6, 2024
As one can see from the posts, fans were not impressed with Rodgers’ effort or leadership on the field. He will be 41 years old in December, and he really is looking like he has lost a step or five.
The New York Jets Should Have Expected a Declining Aaron Rodgers
There is no question that Rodgers is one of the most talented players to ever play the game. He is clearly one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history and should be immortalized on Canton someday.
But the fact of the matter is that his play declined rapidly after the 2021 NFL season.
In his final year with the Green Bay Packers, Rodgers had 64.6% of his passes for 3,695 yards, 26 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, and a 91.1 passer rating.
While these numbers are not what one might call terrible, they are far below the standard Rodgers set for himself.
And he is not showing signs of getting better. This is the version of Rodgers that the Jets gave up a first, second, and condition second round pick for, and it was their mistake.
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