FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers took care of his offensive linemen for Christmas, giving every one a personalized go well with, cologne and sun shades — all from the designer Tom Ford — plus a Louis Vuitton passport holder and a Bose moveable speaker. Every participant additionally obtained a bottle of Devils River bourbon in his locker.
“Santa Rodgers is one of the best present giver on the group,” heart Joe Tippmann stated.
Rodgers has given loads to the Jets over two seasons:
Editor’s Picks
2 Associated
Subsequent-level publicity, beginning with “Arduous Knocks” in 2023; wage cap flexibility, because of a voluntary $34 million pay lower; essentially the most publicized Achilles surgical procedure/restoration since Kobe Bryant; fixed off-the-field drama (bear in mind the vice presidential rumors and the unexcused journey to Egypt?); and let’s not overlook about hope, albeit fleeting.
The one factor that hasn’t come is what they want most: wins.
Rodgers, 41, will take the sphere Sunday towards the Miami Dolphins (4:25 p.m. ET, FOX) in what most likely will probably be his closing sport with the Jets — maybe his final look as an NFL participant. The underside line is not fairly: His file because the Jets’ starter is 5-12 — a .294 profitable share, decrease than his predecessor, the unproven Zach Wilson (12-21, .363).
The oversimplified reality: The Jets have been worse with Rodgers than they had been earlier than him, a thought that was unfathomable on April 26, 2023 — the day of his introductory information convention when he vowed so as to add one other Lombardi to the “lonely” Tremendous Bowl III trophy within the group showcase.
“Clearly, I do not assume this season will probably be talked about in a popular method,” cornerback D.J. Reed stated.
In Rodgers’ soccer profession — which incorporates 4 MVPs and a Tremendous Bowl with the Inexperienced Bay Packers — his time with the Jets marks the primary time he has failed to assist a group attain postseason play no less than as soon as throughout his tenure, courting again to highschool. Essentially the most intriguing half? He is about to complete one of many higher statistical passing seasons in franchise historical past.
RODGERS SAT ON his stool, autographing memorabilia in a half-empty locker room. The gamers who had been current had been roughly half his age; to them, he was their Madden online game QB within the flesh. Along with his age-lined face and graying beard, he appeared outdated and misplaced.
It was mid-November. The season was a multitude, and Rodgers’ left leg was barking due to hamstring and knee accidents. He wore a jacket with a fur-lined collar, trying like he was prepared to depart the constructing, however he sat uninterrupted and signed numerous gadgets to be given to followers, together with a Wisconsin license plate.
A reminder of previous glory.
“Individuals will bear in mind his two completely different legacies,” stated former Packers fullback John Kuhn, who performed with Rodgers for 9 years, together with their Tremendous Bowl championship within the 2010 season.
“They will bear in mind Aaron Rodgers — unbelievable expertise, unbelievable competitor, the generally polarizing determine of the NFL. And so they’ll bear in mind the not-so-fond years in New York, the place one was wasted on a turf damage and one was wasted by a dysfunctional group.”
Rodgers’ place in historical past is safe. Together with the MVPs and his Tremendous Bowl ring, he has a Tremendous Bowl MVP, and to not point out, he holds a top-10 rating in nearly each main passing class. Briefly, he is destined to be a first-ballot entry into the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame.
Two ill-fated seasons in New York should not diminish his legacy. Then once more, some visuals are laborious to erase from reminiscence. Joe Namath was — and is — synonymous with the Jets, however old-timers and purists nonetheless discover it laborious to abdomen video of a broken-down Namath in a Los Angeles Rams uniform in his closing season, 1977.
“A really troublesome transition,” Namath as soon as stated, regretting the transfer.
Will Rodgers be tainted by the Jets’ failure?
Jets QBs: Brett Favre vs. Aaron Rodgers
Favre (2008)Rodgers (2024)Age3941Starts1616Pass yards3,4723,623Completions343345TD passes2224Yards/attempt6.76.6Record9-74-12
“To me, it is a bruise,” a former longtime NFC basic supervisor stated. “In time, it’s going to go away. It is the Jets. [Brett] Favre went there. Did that harm his legacy?”
Former Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick stated, “His legacy will not be impacted by his Jets tenure in any respect. He is one of many biggest quarterbacks of our era.”
Regardless of his struggles, Rodgers has a status as probably the greatest pure passers in historical past and the numbers to again it up. His touchdown-interception ratio is one of the best ever — greater than 4 landing passes for each interception (499 to 115). With 62,678 yards, he solely wants 115 to move Matt Ryan for seventh on the all-time listing.
“I imply, my God, he is executed all the pieces, he is gained all the pieces,” former Jets quarterback Boomer Esiason stated. “His stats are gaudy to say the least. These two years in New York — whether it is two years — will probably be an unlucky chapter in his profession due to the damage. It is a disgrace he could not do what [Peyton] Manning and [Tom] Brady each did, and that is go some other place and win a Tremendous Bowl.”
Ah, sure, the damage — simply one of many lowest moments within the 65-year historical past of the Jets franchise. Rodgers ruptured his left Achilles on the fourth snap of the 2023 season. Rodgers likes to speak about how the universe whispers to him. On this case, it was screaming. He was by no means the identical after Sept. 11, 2023.
By all accounts, he made a fast and full restoration, however the damage compromised his mobility. As a substitute of sliding exterior the pocket to make off-schedule throws — as soon as the hallmark of his sport — he has typically been trapped, like Houdini with out an escape route. The problem was exacerbated by a big hamstring damage in October that prompted some teammates to marvel if he was match to play. Rodgers pressed on, refusing to succumb once more to damage.
“To see that man on the market, dragging his leg round and pushing ahead, it gave me hope,” offensive sort out Morgan Moses stated. “You possibly can’t query his love of the sport.”
Better of NFL Nation
• What’s subsequent for struggling Browns?• Broncos dealing with must-win scenario in Week 18• Has Ernest Jones IV discovered a house in Seattle?• What are NFL’s hardest locations to play?• NFL grappling with late hit guidelines on QBs
Perhaps they had been impressed, however the Jets have not performed prefer it. Because the losses mounted, the whispers about Rodgers obtained louder. Even with a late-season flurry, he ranks twenty fifth out of 33 certified quarterbacks in Complete QBR (48.3), a continuation of the pedestrian play from his closing season in Inexperienced Bay (2022).
The Achilles surgical procedure, and the months of rehab that adopted, exacted a bodily and psychological toll, he stated.
“Actually, since Sept. 11 final 12 months, it appears like I have been rehabbing,” he stated, admitting he is disillusioned by his efficiency.
His daring assertion earlier than the season, that folks would lose their jobs if he did not play as much as his functionality, was a self-fulfilling prophecy. The in-season firings of coach Robert Saleh and basic supervisor Joe Douglas flipped all the pieces the wrong way up, and the Jets by no means recovered.
Rodgers took it laborious. He had lobbied for his or her return on the finish of final season, and now the inspiration — his basis — was being dismantled by impatient proprietor Woody Johnson. The quarterback’s shut pal, offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, was demoted regardless of Rodgers’ efforts to have him spared. Because of this, Rodgers’ affect throughout the group had light.
“He does not have a pot to piss in,” one supply near the scenario stated.
FROM THE COURTSHIP via the honeymoon interval, the Jets catered to Rodgers, hiring his favourite coach (Hackett), signing two of his receivers from Inexperienced Bay (Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb) and letting him set up his offense. The thought was to make him snug amid his late-career transition, with the hope of ending the longest playoff drought in main American sports activities — now 14 years.
“When he walked into that constructing, all people checked out him like he was the god that was going to repair all the pieces,” Esiason stated.
However as a quadragenarian, coming off a significant damage, his superpowers have not been at his full disposal. He has them for 1 / 4, perhaps a half, however not an entire sport. There have been a number of video games, together with final Sunday’s two-interception loss towards the Buffalo Payments, the place he appeared overmatched.
Down 33-0 within the fourth quarter, on the verge of falling to 4-12, Rodgers requested out of the sport, suggesting to interim coach Jeff Ulbrich that he insert Tyrod Taylor. Rodgers spent practically your complete fourth quarter on the bench, typically sitting alone. He appeared like Namath in Los Angeles.
The Jets envisioned Rodgers because the galvanizer, a cerebral quarterback who may use his soccer mind to win the weekly chess match, camouflage weaknesses and extract one of the best out of younger gamers.
What they did not anticipate was underachievement by the protection, which has blown fourth-quarter leads in six losses, and early-season inconsistency from kicker Greg Zuerlein, whose misses loomed giant in three losses.
In fact, Rodgers incurs many of the blame due to his lightning-rod persona. He has sputtered within the clutch, developing empty on 4 potential game-winning drives on the ultimate possession, however is he guilty for the league-leading 131 accepted penalties? The defective sport administration?
His management is at all times beneath assault from onlookers. None of his teammates, maybe out of worry of being faraway from the Rodgers circle of belief, has stated something unfavourable about him. Canvass the locker room, and you’re going to get solely constructive feedback on the file.
“I really feel like he is a man that is undoubtedly misunderstood,” stated Reed, including that it is a privilege to play with somebody of Rodgers’ stature.
“Individuals have their ups and downs and issues to say about him,” Moses stated, “however the one factor I can discuss is how I see him daily on this office — coping with accidents, coping with the uncertainty of teaching adjustments and simply being a staple within the locker room.”
Privately, some teammates stated they’ve seen his physique language when somebody makes a nasty play or misses an project. It occurred Sunday, when Rodgers threw his arms up after an incomplete move to tight finish Kenny Yeboah — a ball thrown at his ft. As one participant stated, “It is like, ‘Come on, man, we’re all on this collectively.'”
Rodgers’ relationship with huge receiver Garrett Wilson has additionally come beneath scrutiny. It began in coaching camp, with on-field arguments. They tried to put in writing them off as heated moments between two opponents, however Wilson has fumed in latest weeks as Rodgers has relied on outdated pal Davante Adams as his WR1. Wilson claimed there’s “no reality” to hypothesis a couple of rift between them.
Comply with the NFL all season lengthy
• Full schedule » | Standings »• Depth charts for each group »• Transactions » | Accidents »• Soccer Energy Index »• Playoff image projections »Extra NFL protection »
Rodgers’ criticism of former teammate Mike Williams additionally did not sit properly with some. After a Week 6 loss to the Payments, Rodgers known as out Williams in a postgame information convention for working the incorrect route on a crucial interception late within the sport — the notorious “purple line” debacle. Rodgers, in nice element, defined how Williams, an offseason acquisition, was alleged to run a vertical route (marked on observe fields with a purple line) as an alternative of an in-breaker. That play successfully ended Williams’ short-lived tenure with the Jets.
Adams was acquired the following day in a commerce; Williams was shipped out to the Pittsburgh Steelers three weeks later.
“The Mike Williams purple line saga was a troublesome look on his management,” Fitzpatrick informed ESPN. “He’ll take the blame in press conferences, however a variety of occasions it feels empty to me due to the sphere physique language and eye rolls through the sport.
“His conceitedness works for teammates once they’re profitable and may be infectious, and a constructive, for the group. However it’s hated by many that do not know him as a result of it comes throughout as smug.”
Fitzpatrick, who retired after the 2021 season, performed towards Rodgers and has studied him intently as a Prime Video analyst, enabling him to attract this conclusion:
“I am positive most of his teammates actually like being round him and gravitate to his vitality,” Fitzpatrick stated. “I do know for a reality he treats individuals the appropriate manner within the constructing, which is nice to listen to, however he has develop into such a polarizing determine — since you’re both with him otherwise you aren’t.
“In the event you’re not [with him], then you definitely’re silly [in Rodgers’ eyes] — a bizarre, infantile stance that I’ve to think about alienates lots of people when you cease having day by day interactions with him.”
DESPITE INCONSISTENT PLAY, Rodgers will end among the many franchise’s single-season leaders in Complete QBR (48.3, rating fifth), passing yards (3,623, sixth) and landing passes (24, ninth). With a strong sport Sunday, he’ll end prime 5 in all three classes. With a sport for the ages, he may problem Namath’s hallowed file of 4,007 yards in 1967 and develop into the second quarterback in Jets historical past to eclipse 4,000 yards. Rodgers wants 385 yards to interrupt Namath’s file.
The disclaimer: The Jets’ quarterback historical past is not glittering. In reality, not one quarterback, not even the legendary Namath, has obtained a single vote for NFL MVP.
“A variety of his season has been tormented by damage,” Adams stated of Rodgers. “I do not need to say ‘plagued,’ however that is been one thing he is fought via. Clearly, he hasn’t been in a position to put his greatest product on the market.
“He is been probably the greatest quarterbacks to ever play this sport, and, it doesn’t matter what occurs from this second on, you possibly can’t take that away from him. Being 40 years outdated and taking part in on the degree anticipated, that is not straightforward to do. However he is executed a hell of a job statistically, making an attempt to bounce again.”
More healthy than midseason, Rodgers has produced the seventh-most passing yards over the previous 4 weeks (996), fueling discuss of a return in 2025. The brand new basic supervisor and new coach could have loads to say about that, as will Rodgers — who has stated he is undecided on whether or not to play. His tenuous relationship with Johnson most likely will not assist issues.
The sense across the group is Johnson is able to transfer on, in accordance with individuals aware of the proprietor’s considering. One particular person stated he’d be “shocked” if Johnson indicators off on Rodgers’ return.
Rodgers has talked brazenly about the potential of being launched, nearly sounding as if he is daring the group to do it. He lately poked Johnson, making a crack in regards to the proprietor’s teenaged son being concerned within the soccer operation. That most likely did not sit properly within the large workplace.
The plan, Rodgers stated, is to take a while within the offseason earlier than making a call on whether or not to retire. Clearly, he desires to regulate his personal future.
“Whether or not he desires to play one other 12 months or not, he is a Corridor of Famer and an MVP, and you’ll’t take that away from him,” Moses stated. “One factor about file books and stats and stuff like that: You possibly can attempt to strip a man of his information, however you possibly can’t strip the man of the {hardware}. And he is obtained a variety of it.”
Rodgers known as these “one of the best two years of my life,” which means in a religious sense — new friendships and a brand new appreciation for the sport. He needs there have been extra victories. So does the fan base. The universe, typically merciless to the Jets, hasn’t obliged.
