In a season filled with disappointment and turmoil, the New York Jets have made a surprising decision regarding their starting quarterback position. Despite a nightmarish campaign that has seen the team stumble to a 3-9 record, interim coach Jeff Ulbrich announced on Monday that Aaron Rodgers will remain the starter for what could be the final five games of his illustrious career.
Rodgers Gets a Reprieve
For his 41st birthday, Rodgers was given a reprieve by the Jets organization. Ulbrich, who had created doubt about the quarterback’s status with a lukewarm endorsement following Sunday’s 26-21 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, stated that Rodgers still has the ability to perform at a “high level” and gives the spiraling Jets the best chance to win.
The decision to stick with Rodgers also took into account his Hall-of-Fame pedigree. “Obviously, that’s part of every conversation regarding Aaron,” Ulbrich acknowledged. “He’s done amazing things, legendary things in this league, and I think that’s always part of the conversation.”
A Week-to-Week Decision?
While Ulbrich made it sound like he’s prepared to ride with Rodgers for the rest of the season, barring injury, the situation may not be as simple as that. Sources have revealed that Jets owner Woody Johnson had suggested benching Rodgers when the team was 2-2, though he backed off at the time. However, with the team already looking ahead to the 2025 season and hiring an outside firm to assist with general manager and head coaching searches, Johnson could always change his mind.
Rodgers’ Struggles Continue
Rodgers, who turned 41 on Monday, will make the 14th start of his Jets career on Sunday against the Miami Dolphins. He’s coming off one of his worst games of the season, completing just 21 of 39 passes for 185 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. However, the stats don’t tell the whole story.
In the second quarter of Sunday’s game, Rodgers doomed the Jets with an awful two-play sequence. He overthrew a wide-open Garrett Wilson for what would’ve been a nine-yard touchdown and followed up with an interception that resulted in a historic 92-yard pick-6 by Leonard Williams, the longest in history for a defensive lineman.
Well, there are 11 guys on the field. Sometimes it’s my fault. Definitely multiple times today. And then the details aren’t there in some other spots, too.
– Aaron Rodgers on his struggles
A Shadow of His Former Self
Rodgers hasn’t resembled anything close to the quarterback who won four MVP awards with the Green Bay Packers. Early-season leg injuries have been a factor, according to Ulbrich, but the stats paint a grim picture. Rodgers is averaging just 219 passing yards per game, his completion percentage is a mere 62.5%, and his yards-per-attempt is a career-low 6.3. He ranks 23rd out of 34 qualified passers in Total QBR.
Perhaps most concerning is Rodgers’ inability to deliver in the clutch. In five of the Jets’ nine losses, he had the ball with a chance to lead a potential game-winning drive on the final possession – and the team lost all five of those games.
The Final Chapter?
As the Jets enter the final stretch of a lost season, all eyes will be on Aaron Rodgers. The future Hall of Famer has indicated that he’s undecided about playing in 2025, and his performance over the next five games could very well determine whether he walks away from the game for good.
For now, the Jets are putting their faith in Rodgers, hoping that he can recapture some of the magic that made him one of the greatest quarterbacks of his generation. “We have great belief in Aaron,” Ulbrich insisted. “We think he gives us the best opportunity to win.”
But with each passing week, the question looms larger: Is this the bitter end of a legendary career, or can Aaron Rodgers find a way to write a final chapter worth remembering?
