As the New York Jets navigate the turbulent waters of the 2024 NFL season, one question looms larger than any other: will Aaron Rodgers still be their quarterback when the 2025 campaign kicks off? The future Hall of Famer’s tenure in the Big Apple has been a roller coaster ride, leaving fans and pundits alike pondering what lies ahead for both the legendary signal-caller and the franchise he currently leads.
The Rodgers Era: A Tale of Triumph and Tribulation
When the Jets acquired Rodgers in a blockbuster trade prior to the 2023 season, expectations soared higher than a spiraling Hail Mary pass. The four-time MVP was expected to instantly elevate a talented but underachieving roster into the realm of legitimate Super Bowl contenders. And for a fleeting moment, it seemed that the stars had aligned over MetLife Stadium.
However, the script quickly took a familiar turn for Jets fans. A promising start gave way to inconsistency and frustration, with Rodgers’ brilliance often overshadowed by the team’s inability to close out games. Now, at 3-7 and staring down the barrel of another lost season, the Jets find themselves at a crossroads.
The Contractual Conundrum
Complicating matters is Rodgers’ contract situation. The 40-year-old quarterback’s deal carries no guaranteed money beyond the 2024 season, providing the Jets with an escape hatch should they choose to move in a different direction. It’s a decision that will likely hinge on a variety of factors, from Rodgers’ performance down the stretch to the stability of the coaching staff and front office.
“I think so, yeah,” Rodgers said when asked if he wants to play next season, sounding like a quarterback who might look to audible.
– Aaron Rodgers on his future with the Jets
Exploring the Alternatives
Should the Jets opt to move on from Rodgers, their options at quarterback are far from plentiful. The 2025 free agent market is thin on proven starters, with Sam Darnold and Russell Wilson headlining a less-than-inspiring crop of potential replacements. Darnold, of course, is a familiar face for Jets fans, having spent three tumultuous seasons with the team before being traded to the Panthers in 2021. A reunion seems unlikely given the baggage of his previous stint.
The draft presents another avenue for the Jets to address the position, but success is far from guaranteed. Selecting and developing a franchise quarterback is an art that the organization has struggled to master in recent decades, with a trail of busted picks and shattered dreams littering their history. Even if they were to strike gold in the draft, the growing pains of starting a rookie signal-caller could set the team’s rebuild back even further.
The Case for Continuity
Despite the uncertainty swirling around Rodgers and the team’s disappointing 2024 campaign, there is a case to be made for staying the course. When healthy and supported by a competent cast, Rodgers remains one of the most gifted quarterbacks to ever grace the gridiron. His ability to elevate the play of those around him is unquestioned, and his competitive fire still burns white-hot.
Moreover, the constant churn of quarterbacks and coaching staffs has been a recipe for sustained mediocrity in New York. Hitting the reset button yet again could do more harm than good, especially if it means subjecting a young passer to the same dysfunctional environment that has swallowed up so many others.
The Path Forward
Ultimately, the decision on Rodgers’ future with the Jets will come down to a delicate balancing act between short-term competitiveness and long-term stability. If the team can show signs of progress in the final weeks of the 2024 season, and if Rodgers expresses a willingness to continue his journey in green and white, it may be in the franchise’s best interest to run it back for another year.
However, if the losses continue to pile up and the locker room begins to fracture, a clean break may be the only path forward. In that case, the Jets would be wise to proceed with caution, carefully evaluating their options and resisting the urge to make a splash for the sake of making a splash.
Regardless of the outcome, one thing is certain: the eyes of the football world will be firmly fixed on Florham Park as the Aaron Rodgers saga writes its next chapter. For a franchise so often defined by turmoil and disappointment, the opportunity to rewrite the script is there for the taking. The only question is whether they’ll seize it, or let it slip through their fingers once again.
