The New York Jets and Aaron Rodgers are breaking up. Having traded for the four-time NFL MVP back in 2023 from the Green Bay Packers, the Jets confirmed on Thursday they would be moving on from Rodgers and looking to head in a new direction at quarterback.
Rodgers, who tore his Achilles during in the first game of the 2023 NFL season, played all 17 games during the Jets disastrous 2024 campaign that saw them finish up 5-12. Statistically, the 41-year-old did not put up bad numbers for the Jets, throwing 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
However, in an effort to fully clean house, the Jets, who hired Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey as their new head coach and general manager following the end of the 2024 regular season, have now confirmed Rodgers will not be back for the 2025 NFL season.
In a joint statement, Glenn and Mougey said: “Last week we met with Aaron and shared that our intention was to move in a different direction at quarterback.
“It was important to have this discussion now to provide clarity and enable each of us the proper time to plan for our respective futures. We want to thank him for the leadership, passion and dedication he brought to the organization and wish him success moving forward.”
Jets owner Woody Johnson also said: “I personally want to thank Aaron for his time at the New York Jets. His arrival in 2023 was met with unbridled excitement and I will forever be grateful that he chose to join us to continue his Hall of Fame career.
“From day one, he embodied all that it meant to be a New York Jet, embraced our fans and immersed himself in our city. That is what I will remember most when I look back at his time here. He will always be welcome and I wish him only the best in whatever he chooses to do next.”
In choosing to move on from Rodgers, the Jets now have to manage how they will look to deal with the $49M they will face in dead money from his contract.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports: “The Jets will face $49M in dead money when they eventually release Aaron Rodgers. They can take the full hit this year or, more likely, designate him as a post-6/1 cut.
“As a 6/1 cut, they’d carry his $23.5M cap hit until June 1, when it drops to $14M—saving $9.5M. However, they’d then absorb a $35M cap hit in 2026.”
