Do Jets want Aaron Rodgers back in 2025?

Aug 19, 2023; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) during warmups for the Jets game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports

Aaron Rodgers sounds like he intends to continue his playing career next season, but do the New York Jets even want him back? That depends who you ask.

Rodgers, who will turn 41 in December, was asked on Wednesday if his thoughts on playing in 2025 have changed now that the Jets are 3-7 and do not appear all that close to contention. Rodgers indicated that his future plans remain the same as they were months ago.

That has led to the question of whether the Jets still believe Rodgers can lead them to the playoffs. Dianna Russini of The Athletic debated that with Chase Daniel during the latest episode of the duo’s “Scoop City” podcast, which was released on Friday. Daniel said the Jets should move on and that bringing Rodgers back would be another example of “the dysfunction” that exists within the organization.

According to Russini, the Jets feel differently from Daniel and are “planning on having Aaron Rodgers return next year.”

Zack Rosenblatt, another reporter who works for The Athletic, is not so sure. As part of a feature that examines 12 teams that could have new starting quarterbacks next season, Rosenblatt described it as “far from a lock” that Rodgers will be back with the Jets in 2025.

“I’m not even sure I would put it at 50 percent at the moment,” he wrote.

Rodgers is nowhere near as mobile as he was in his prime. His age and the torn Achilles he suffered last season are both factors in that. The former MVP enters Week 11 with 2,258 passing yards, 15 touchdowns and 7 interceptions.

Rodgers has looked a bit better since the Jets acquired Davante Adams in a trade. Adams remains under contract next season as well, so it is certainly possible New York could bank on Rodgers being better as he gets further removed from his Achilles surgery and has more time to rediscover the chemistry he once had with Adams in Green Bay.

The Jets do not owe Rodgers any guaranteed money in 2025. They would need to pay him a $35 million option bonus plus his $2.5 million salary if they decide to bring him back. Rodgers’ cap hit is $23.5 million, which is very reasonable for a quarterback.