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New York Jets Quarterback Aaron Rodgers Needs to Retire

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New York Jets‘ Quarterback Aaron Rodgers has a decision to make.

Staring at a current record of 3-10 record, the reality is that there will be no playoffs for the four-time NFL MVP. With the team’s 32-26 overtime loss on Sunday to the rival Miami Dolphins, it marked the 14th straight season that Gang Green will not be playing postseason football. New York now has just four games remaining this season and the biggest question moving forward is, will this be the last few times we see Rodgers suiting up?

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If Rodgers were to come back, there are a few questions that he’ll have to answer first. Will he return to play for the Jets? Will the Jets want him back? Who else could he play for? Does he still have some game left in him? These are all questions that right now can’t be answered. They will be in the coming months after the 2024-25 season comes to a close. For now, the choice is pretty obvious. It’s time for Rodgers to hang up his cleats.

New York Jets Quarterback Aaron Rodgers Needs to Retire

Passing You By

Sure, every athlete would love the opportunity to end their career on their terms. However, more often than not, Father Time decides when their services are no longer needed. Rodgers has talked before about wanting to beat Father Time, but that seems unlikely at this point. While he is coming off of a season-ending injury from last year, the truth is that he’s lost some zip on the ball and, he’s not as fleet of foot as he once was. Per ESPN stats, the Jets’ Quarterback Aaron Rodgers currently has the 27th-highest completion percentage of any quarterback in the league at 63.1%. That is the worst he’s had in his career.

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He also averaging just 6.5 yards per completion which is the lowest average he’s had since 2015.  What makes things more concerning is that Rodgers began to decline back in 2022 in his last season with the Green Bay Packers. That season he threw a career-high 12 interceptions. With eight on the year with several games to go, he could potentially set a new career high. His decision-making isn’t as sharp and when he makes mistakes he seems to blame everyone but himself.

Now, it’s obvious that the Jets’ failures are not entirely on their quarterback. Head coach Robert Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas were both fired earlier this year. Their lack of good coaching and team building also led to some of these issues. The defense isn’t what it was in the past and the offensive line is still a question mark. All of this combined with many different headlines involving the owner Woody Johnson and you get what’s in front of you. However, that does not entirely excuse Rodgers for his poor play. With the weapons around him, there should be better production.

Hang Up the Cleats

There’s no shame in Rodgers deciding that 2024 will be his last season. He’s on his way to being a first-ballot Hall of Famer. He’ll be considered one of the most talented quarterbacks to ever play the position. Even though he has stated in the past that he wants to come back and play, the sad truth is that he would be better off retiring.

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Not only is this the right move for him and his career. This is the right move for the Jets. It’s time to accept that this era of the franchise won’t work and that they must start over yet again. It’s what’s best for all parties involved. While Rodgers wants to be a Jet in 2025, it’s time for one of the best to ever do it to begin his life after football.

Main Photo: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

The post New York Jets Quarterback Aaron Rodgers Needs to Retire appeared first on Last Word on Pro Football.