Aaron Rodgers’ tenure with the New York Jets began with lots of fanfare and Super Bowl aspirations.
It ended less than two years later with a disappointing thud.
The Jets slammed the door on the 41-year-old quarterback potentially returning to the team when new head coach Aaron Glenn and new general manager Darren Mougey issued a joint statement Thursday saying they told Rodgers last week “that our intention was to move in a different direction at quarterback.”
Rodgers will likely be designated a post-June 1 cut for salary cap reasons, but he would be able to be released after the NFL’s new league year begins March 12.
The four-time NFL MVP and Super Bowl XLV MVP hasn’t announced his playing plans, saying several times in recent weeks that he’ll take some time to consider whether he wants to play a 21st season of professional football — all but the past two of those spent with the Green Bay Packers — or retire.
While he faces an offseason of uncertainty, one thing is clear: If Rodgers wants to get back in the huddle, it won’t be with the Jets.
Still, a few quarterback-needy teams could be potential landing spots. Here are some possibilities.
Tennessee Titans: The worst team in the AFC South Division the past two seasons, the Titans have the No. 1 pick in this year draft, which starts April 24 in Green Bay. They could target a quarterback such as Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders or Miami’s Cam Ward, but bringing in Rodgers might allow them to focus on other positions in the draft. Then again, Mike Borgonzi was just hired as general manager in January, and the team has a young head coach in 40-year-old Brian Callahan (whose debut 2024 season produced the 3-14 record that sent Tennessee to the bottom of the standings and the top of the draft order). Would they want to take on an aging quarterback in what is a likely rebuild?
Cleveland Browns: Deshaun Watson might miss the entire 2025 season after he ruptured his Achilles tendon for the second time in three months, and his status with the team moving forward was already shaky. The Browns have the No. 2 draft pick, so they’ll certainly have a shot at Sanders or Ward. Even if they draft one of them, Rodgers could allow a rookie quarterback to sit and learn for at least a season (something Rodgers did for three before replacing Brett Favre).
New York Giants: Former starter Daniel Jones is already long gone, and Tommy DeVito is the only quarterback on the roster under contract for next season. The Giants have the No. 3 pick, so Sanders or Ward could be in play for them, too, but coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen don’t have a lot of time to turn things around. They were retained after the season, but co-owner John Mara made it clear he needs to see marked improvement by the team. Bringing in Rodgers would be a last-ditch effort to stabilize things. Hey, at least he wouldn’t have to move — and he’s already familiar with MetLife Stadium, home of both the Giants and the Jets.
Las Vegas Raiders: Sure, Rodgers’ receiver buddy Davante Adams insisted on leaving Las Vegas and reuniting with his former Green Bay quarterback in New York, but this is a new regime with head coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Spytek. Aidan O’Connell and Gardner Minshew are the possible starters behind center next season, especially with the Raiders having the No. 6 pick, which likely takes them out of play for one of the top quarterbacks. However, from Rodgers’ perspective, the veteran Carroll and minority team owner Tom Brady could be an attractive combo — and he would provide the Raiders with a bridge to a young quarterback of the future.
Pittsburgh Steelers: The Steelers have made the playoffs the last two seasons and four of the past five under longtime head coach Mike Tomlin, but they failed to get out of the wild-card round in any of those appearances. Team owner Art Rooney II said it’s unlikely both Justin Fields and Russell Wilson will be back, with his preference that the team choose one of those quarterbacks. Rodgers’ availability might change things as he could step into a playoff-ready team that’s looking for its first postseason win since January 2017.
San Francisco 49ers: Rodgers grew up in the Bay Area rooting for the 49ers and idolizing four-time Super Bowl champion quarterback Joe Montana, and it appeared he could live out his childhood dream when San Francisco had the No. 1 overall pick in 2005. The 49ers instead went with Alex Smith, and Rodgers fell to 24th when the Packers drafted the California Golden Bears star. Brock Purdy is eligible for a contract extension on his rookie deal, and team owner Jed York recently said he’d like to see him in San Francisco for the long haul. The 49ers missed the playoffs this past season after playing in the Super Bowl a year earlier, though, and Rodgers’ experience could be viewed as the missing piece to another long postseason run.
Minnesota Vikings: Could Rodgers follow the same path Favre did when he left Green Bay, briefly played for the Jets, then went to Minnesota and suited up for one of the Packers’ division rivals? Well, Sam Darnold could be a free agent after having a career year while leading the Vikings to the playoffs (although he could get the franchise tag). Jones is still there after leaving the Giants and so is J.J. McCarthy, who missed his entire rookie season with a knee injury. In Minneapolis, Rodgers would be stepping into a high-powered offense that includes receivers Jordan Addison and Justin Jefferson, tight end T.J. Hockenson and running back Aaron Jones, his former Packers teammate.
New Orleans Saints: First-time head coach Kellen Moore was complimentary of Derek Carr in his introductory news conference Thursday, but he stopped short of saying the veteran would be the starting quarterback in New Orleans next season. That certainly created some some speculation that perhaps the Saints could move on from Carr, who has two years left on his contract. Rodgers could step in for Carr, who was the Jets’ backup plan when they pursued Rodgers in 2023.