Aaron Rodgers Hints at Possible Retirement Ahead of Jets’ Regular Season Finale: ‘Been a Long Career I’m Really Proud Of’
SNY
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers on Wednesday hinted at possibly retiring after the team’s regular-season finale Sunday.
Rodgers’s first two seasons with the Jets left a lot to be desired. Heading into the first season, it was believed that the team was just a quarterback away from being a Super Bowl contender, and Rodgers would be the answer to their QB woes. Unfortunately, Rodgers tore his Achilles on the first drive of the first game of the season and was out for the rest of the year.
Despite Rodgers playing, the second season was also a disaster. The star QB has looked every bit of 41 years old, throwing an uncharacteristically high 10 interceptions to go along with 24 touchdown passes through the Jets’ first 16 games. It is just the fourth time in his 17 seasons as a starting QB that he’s thrown 10 or more interceptions.
Speaking to the media Wednesday, Rodgers admitted that, much like he did before signing with the Jets in 2023, he’s putting a great deal of thought into his future in the sport. When asked what was on his mind when considering the possibility that Sunday’s matchup against the Miami Dolphins could be his last-ever game, he said:
Just a lot of gratitude for the last 20 years and the many, countless lives I’ve encountered, and amazing teammates and coaches I now call friends, experiences I’ve had, memories — a lot of great memories — a lot of great people impacted my life — ones that know and one that might not even know it, you know, by just side comments or putting arm around me at the right time.
But not just those 20 years. Great college coaches at Cal and junior college and high school coaches. This game has given me a lot. I’ve given a lot back to it and I’m thankful for it. I’m not thinking, you know, I won’t be thinking about that come game day. I’ll just be enjoying this. I’m trying to stay in a moment, but, of course, it’s been a long career. I’m really proud of what I’ve been able to be a part of, what I’ve been able to accomplish, and also looking forward to a nice mental and physical rest.
Rodgers also called his time with the Jets the “best two years of my life” and joked about making his decision after another offseason darkness retreat.
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