Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers will play his 248th career game on Sunday against the Dolphins. The question is whether it will be his last.
The 41-year-old Rodgers was asked on Wednesday whether he has considered the possibility that this is his final game.
“Yeah, of course,” Rodgers said.
Rodgers said he will take some time after the season to clear his head and relax before deciding whether he wants to play a 21st season in the NFL. But he knows that it looks increasingly unlikely that he will return to the Jets next year.
The team is about to hire a new general manager and head coach.
The Jets are finishing out a miserable 4-12 season where many things went wrong, including with Rodgers.
It seems much more likely the Jets will want a fresh start at quarterback next year than running it back with Rodgers.
Rodgers was asked how he feels when he reflects on these last two seasons with the Jets.
“I mean graтιтude, honestly. It’s been the best two years of my life,” Rodgers said. “That’s a perspective adjustment that happened at some point during the rehab process last year. Just the excitement, falling back in love with the game, getting to know these guys in here, getting to know the great men and women that work here. It’s been a lot of fun. Obviously, on the field has been short of expectations, no doubt. This game is more than just that. This game is about the relationships.”
When told that it sounds like Rodgers is leaning toward retirement, Rodgers said that was not the case but he knows a Jets return may be unlikely.
“Just more resigned to the reality of the situation. There’s going to be change here,” he said. “If I’m a part of the change, I just want make sure everyone knows I have nothing but graтιтude for my time here.
“I’m disappointed about the performance both myself and as a team but I’m really thankful for 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 we’re in.”
Rodgers has said repeatedly that he wants to take some time after the season to rest his body and mind before deciding whether he wants to keep playing.
On Wednesday, he joked about the process he used in 2022 when he faced a similar decision.
“Probably darkness again. No, I think I’m done with that,” Rodgers said. “I won’t be doing any darkness retreats this offseason.”
Rodgers said he does not think the new Jets leaders will take very long before making a decision on his future with the team, pointing out that free agency begins in March.
“I don’t think we’re even going to get that far,” Rodgers said. “There’s going to be regime change here, at least with GM. Whatever they end up doing, I’m sure I’ll either get a call or have a conversation and go from there.”
Rodgers said he feels like he was not able to rest offseason because he was rehabbing from the torn Achilles tendon he suffered in the first game of the 2023 season. That has led to a long time of rehabbing and training without a break.
He compared it to a rookie season when a player goes from their college season to training for the Combine and then joining a 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 since September 11 last year, it really feels like I’ve been rehabbing and training just to get to be able to play in training camp. Then, had the nerves of playing the first few games and then get kind of banged up and kind of been just trying to get back on the field for many weeks until the last three or four where 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.”
Rodgers said he won’t take it personally if the Jets don’t want him back.
“If I want to play and they don’t want me here, then I’ll see if there’s other options,” Rodgers said. “First, I’ve got to wrap my head around doing the grind one more time.”
