Aaron Rodgers — a name synonymous with greatness in the NFL. 

The four-time MVP and Super Bowl champion left an indelible mark in Green Bay, cementing his place as one of the most iconic quarterbacks in league history. So, when he joined the New York Jets ahead of the 2023 season, expectations weren’t just high — they were stratospheric. 

Rodgers wasn’t just supposed to lead the Jets to relevance; he was tasked with (and talked about) delivering them to glory.

But football, as Jets fans know all too well, can be brutally unpredictable. 

Four plays. That’s all it took for Rodgers’ 2023 season to end with a devastating Achilles tear. It was the kind of gut punch that left an entire fanbase in collective disbelief. Instead of watching Rodgers lead their team, Jets fans spent the year waiting, hoping, and dreaming about 2024 — when they’d finally get a full season with under center.

Even after the injury, the expectations didn’t waver. If anything, they grew. Could Rodgers come back better than ever? Could he overcome both his age and the injury to deliver on the promise of a Super Bowl run? 

Now, as the dust settles on a rocky 2024 campaign, the question looms larger than ever: What does the future hold for Aaron Rodgers?

A Rocky Return

The 2024 season was a rollercoaster for Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets. It started with sky-high expectations — Rodgers was supposed to be the missing piece, the veteran quarterback who could finally take the Jets to the promised land. 

Early on, the cracks showed. Rodgers’ return from an Achilles injury was miraculous in its own right, but his play on the field didn’t match the hype. In the season opener against the 49ers, he managed just 167 yards, a single touchdown, and a costly interception. 

It was an underwhelming start that set the tone for what became a frustrating first half of the season. By Week 5, after a disheartening loss to the Vikings and mounting offensive struggles, the Jets made the shocking decision to fire head coach Robert Saleh. It was chaos in New York, and Rodgers — always the center of attention — was right in the middle of it.

When the Magic Returned, Briefly

Mid-season brought flashes of the old Aaron Rodgers. There was the jaw-dropping 52-yard Hail Mary against the Bills and moments where it seemed like he could single-handedly drag the Jets to victory. But the consistency wasn’t there. 

Even with Davante Adams back in the fold, the magic of their Green Bay days was missing. The offensive line couldn’t protect him, and the play-calling lacked creativity. It became clear that the problems ran deeper than just the quarterback position.

Down the stretch, Rodgers was playing better football, but the team’s hopes had already faded. In Week 14, he finally broke a 34-game drought without a 300-yard passing performance in an overtime loss to the Dolphins. It was a bittersweet achievement — proof that Rodgers could still sling it, but also a reminder of how far short the Jets had fallen. 

Adding insult to injury, Rodgers set the NFL record for most sacks taken by a quarterback in a career, passing Tom Brady. It’s not exactly a milestone any player wants, and it underscored the Jets’ ongoing offensive line woes.

Ultimately, the Jets missed the playoffs, and Rodgers found himself at the center of relentless speculation. Was this the end of the line for the 40-year-old quarterback? Or could he find a way to rewrite the narrative in 2025? For now, Rodgers’ future remains one of the most intriguing questions in the NFL.

Hypothetical Huddles

If the Jets were to trade Rodgers, it’d be a blockbuster move — but it’s one that’s also incredibly unlikely. We’re talking about a guaranteed salary and cap hit so steep that most teams wouldn’t even entertain the thought unless the Jets threw in serious draft capital. That’s before you even get to Rodgers’ age and questions about his ability to play at an elite level for more than a season or two. Still, let’s dream for a moment.

The San Francisco 49ers top the list of dream destinations for Rodgers. A return to his home state, playing for a coach like Kyle Shanahan, and joining a roster that’s already Super Bowl-ready? It almost makes too much sense. 

Shanahan even called Packers coach Matt LaFleur in 2021 about trading for Rodgers. The 49ers have the weapons, and Rodgers could give Brock Purdy time to develop. But again, the financial gymnastics here are Olympic-level, and the 49ers’ recent success might have them sticking with their current plan.

Discounted Double Check

Now, if the Jets were to cut Rodgers — a move that many seem to think is going to be the answer — there are still teams that might make a run at him. San Francisco comes up again because, well, Shanahan would likely take him on a small, one-year deal in a heartbeat. It’s not a bad scenario if Rodgers wants one last chance to chase a ring.

Then there’s the Los Angeles Rams. If Matthew Stafford were to retire, Sean McVay might see Rodgers as a high-upside stopgap. The Rams don’t have much draft capital or a clear plan for their next quarterback, and Rodgers could fit their win-now mentality. That said, their focus might shift to someone like Sam Darnold if they miss out on Rodgers.

NFL Network's Ian Rappaport brought up the possibility of him competing with Deshaun Watson for the starting role in Cleveland in 2025, but that would be an unprecedented amount of off-field drama packed into one quarterback room.

In reality, though, both scenarios — a trade or being cut — seem like long shots.

The Numbers Don’t Lie: Rodgers Isn’t Going Anywhere

Let’s face it: Aaron Rodgers isn’t going anywhere. At least, not in the practical sense. Sure, there’s endless speculation about hypothetical landing spots, but the reality is much simpler — and much less glamorous. Rodgers’ contract makes staying with the Jets in 2025 the most logical, if not inevitable, outcome.

First, the numbers don’t lie. If the Jets were to cut Rodgers before June 1, 2025, they’d be staring at a massive $49 million dead cap hit. Even if they waited until after June 1 to designate him as a post-June 1 cut, the financial burden would just spread out: $14 million in dead cap for 2025 and $35 million for 2026. Those are staggering figures for a franchise already struggling to balance rebuilding with contention.

Keeping Rodgers on the roster, on the other hand, comes with a much more manageable cap hit of $23.5 million in 2025. It’s not pocket change, but it’s far easier to swallow compared to the alternative.

Beyond the contract logistics, there’s the matter of practicality. The Jets will have the 7th pick in 2025's draft, which isn’t ideal for snagging a top-tier quarterback.

And then there’s Rodgers himself. For all the retirement rumors and cryptic comments, he’s shown a willingness to play ball — figuratively and literally. He went on The Pat McAfee Show and talked about his future with the Jets, should they want him to stick around, saying:

I know what it was like to be a first-round pick and to be in a room with a Hall of Famer, and I tried to, you know, to help Jordan as much as possible. And if there's a situation where the new staff came in and wanted me to be there, also wanted to make a pick for the future and pick a quarterback if there was one there they really liked, then of course, you know. As far as pay goes, I think I've already proven I'm willing to take a pay cut.

It’s clear that Rodgers is willing to play mentor, take a financial step back, and continue as part of a larger team effort — or at least he says he is. For the Jets, that’s exactly the kind of attitude they need to move forward.

So while the NFL rumor mill churns on, the most likely outcome is the least dramatic: Aaron Rodgers stays right where he is, suiting up for the Jets in 2025 with unfinished business on his mind.

Rodgers and the Jets: A Story Still Being Written

Aaron Rodgers’ 2024 season was anything but straightforward. It began with immense anticipation, stumbled through early struggles, and ended with lingering questions about what’s next. 

While the rollercoaster year showcased moments of his old brilliance, it also underscored the challenges both Rodgers and the Jets face as they navigate an uncertain future.

Realistically, Rodgers returning to the Jets in 2025 feels like the most plausible outcome. The contract — with its massive dead cap implications — makes cutting him a financial nightmare, and the Jets’ draft position likely rules out landing a top-tier rookie quarterback. Add in Rodgers’ own comments about being open to mentoring and taking a pay cut, and the pieces for his return seem to fall into place.

Still, the question remains: Can Rodgers and the Jets turn things around? Or is this the twilight of one of the most storied careers in NFL history? Jets fans are hoping for redemption, but as always with Rodgers, nothing is ever truly predictable.