SO LONG

Jets Explain Why They Are Officially Dumping Aaron Rodgers

The 41-year-old future Hall of Famer was seen as a savior of the franchise when he arrived in 2023.

The New York Jets officially announced on Thursday that quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been given the boot and was told the team would be going in a different direction. The move was long in coming, with the Jets meeting with Rodgers, 41, for a face-to-face talk last week. “I personally want to thank Aaron for his time at the New York Jets,” owner Woody Johnson said in a statement Thursday morning. “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 future Hall of Famer had a rocky two seasons with the team, suffering a season-ending Achilles’ injury early in his first game, then returning in 2024-25 but going just 5-12 with up-and-down performances. The team must now decide whether to release Rodgers and take a $49 million hit or assign him as a post-June 1 release, splitting their salary cap over two years.