When the Jets host the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, the final whistle will officially end what has been a tumultuous season for a team that came into the year with lofty expectations.
It could also be the final NFL moment of Aaron Rodgers’ Hall of Fame career.
Speaking with reporters on Wednesday, Rodgers made it clear that he has not yet made a decision on his playing future, but he repeatedly expressed gratitude towards the Jets, and certainly sounded like someone who knew his time with the organization was coming to a close.
“Yeah, of course,” Rodgers answered when asked if he thought about Sunday potentially being his final NFL game.
“Just a lot of gratitude for the last 20 years and the many, countless lives I’ve encountered and the teammates and coaches I now call friends. … This game has given me a lot, and I’ve given a lot back to it. Thankful for it. I won’t be thinking about that come gameday, I’ll just be enjoying this. I’m trying to stay in the moment, but of course it’s been a long career that I’m really proud of, what I’ve been able to be a part of, what I’ve been able to accomplish. Also looking forward to a nice mental and physical rest.”
Rodgers did not shy away from the fact that things have not gone to plan during his tenure in New York. Over his 17 games (including the four snaps in the 2023 season opener), Rodgers has gone 5-12 as the Jets’ starter, throwing for just 213.1 yards per game with an 88.9 quarterback rating, both of which are much lower than his career averages.
Still, Rodgers called his time with the Jets “the best two years” of his life, saying it helped him with “falling back in love with the game.”
“I mean, gratitude, honestly. It’s been the best two years of my life,” Rodgers said of his Jets tenure. “And that’s a perspective adjustment that happened at some point during the rehab process last year. But just the excitement, falling back in love with the game, getting to know these guys in here, the great men and women who work here, it’s been a lot of fun. Obviously on the field it’s been short of expatiations, no doubt, but this game’s about more than just that. … Obviously, I wish things would have gone better on the field, but nothing but gratitude for this time in my life.”
With all that said, Rodgers made it clear that he did want his words to be taken as him leaning towards retirement.
“I’m just more resigned to the reality of the situation,” he said. “I think there’s going to be change here, and if I’m a part of the change, then I just want to make sure everybody knows I’ve got nothing but gratitude for my time here. I enjoyed speaking with you all every single week and the questions. I do appreciate it, I really do.
“Again, I’m disappointed about the performance from both myself and as a team, but I’m really thankful about the opportunity. If I feel good coming back and they want to make another run at this, that would be fantastic, but I’m not naïve to the situation that we’re in.”
The 41-year-old, who will one day adorn a gold jacket as a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, said he’ll need to take some time this offseason before making a final decision on playing, whether it’s back with the Jets or with another team.
“I need a break, mentally,” Rodgers said. “I don’t want to make a decision until I’ve been able to rest mentally and physically, because really since Sept. 11 of last year it feels like I’ve been rehabbing and training just to get to be able to play in training camp, and then obviously have the nerves of the first few games, and then kind of get banged up and have kind of been just trying to get back on the field for many weeks until the last three or four when I felt really good. I just need a break mentally to kind of refresh and put my feet in the sand and see where I’m at after that.”
But rest assured, Rodgers won’t be heading back into the darkness to make a decision this time around.
“I won’t be doing any darkness retreats this offseason,” he said with a smile.
