The New York Jets announced Thursday what had been reported over the weekend — the team is moving on from quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
The Jets’ new regime of head coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey has decided to start fresh at the quarterback position and part ways with the four-time NFL MVP.
“Last week we met with Aaron and shared that our intention was to move in a different direction at quarterback,” Glenn and Mougey said in a statement from the team. “It was important to have this discussion now to provide clarity and enable each of us the proper time to plan for our respective futures. We want to thank him for the leadership, passion, and dedication he brought to the organization and wish him success moving forward.”
Rodgers spent two seasons with the Jets after being acquired in a trade from the Green Bay Packers in April 2023. He tore his Achilles just four plays into the 2023 season and went on to miss the rest of the year. In 2024, Rodgers started every game for the Jets and threw for 3,897 yards, 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions but the team finished with a 5-12 record.
“I personally want to thank Aaron for his time at the New York Jets,” team owner Woody Johnson in a statement from the team. “His arrival in 2023 was met with unbridled excitement and I will forever be grateful that he chose to join us to continue his Hall of Fame career. From day one, he embodied all that it meant to be a New York Jet, embraced our fans, and immersed himself in our city. That is what I will remember most when I look back at his time here. He will always be welcome, and I wish him only the best in whatever he chooses to do next.”
The Jets are expected to release Rodgers with a post-June 1 designation, which would spread out the $49 million dead cap penalty over two seasons instead of the team taking that on all in 2025. By doing that, the Jets would save $9.5 million against the cap this offseason, though that wouldn’t hit their books until June 1. If the Jets opted to eat Rodgers’ contract now and before June 1, the Jets would take on the full $49 million dead cap hit this offseason and lose $25.5 million in cap space.
This story will be updated.
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