Aaron Rodgers of the New York Jets is shown on the sideline, Sunday December 24, 2023.
Syndication: The Record
(Florham Park, NJ) – One day removed from his first season in New York – a year that was over as soon as it got started – Rodgers is readying himself for the 2024-2025 campaign.
One thing is for sure: Rodgers isn’t under any delusions as to what life will be like for him and Gang Green when the final whistle blows on the Super Bowl, and every football fan turns their eyes to the future. Simply put, the expectations will be extremely high – perhaps even more so after Rodgers went down with injury just minutes into his Jets tenure. “We’re all going to be on the hot seat next year,” as the Canton-bound QB put it.
Rodgers also isn’t putting all his eggs in one basket, and doesn’t seem content to make the upcoming year an all-or-nothing approach to his Jets’ story. “I would like this to be more than just next year,” Rodgers said in speaking with reporters Monday as the Jets cleaned out their lockers. He’s also willing to chip in and assist as GM Joe Douglas looks into available free agents: “If he wants my help in recruiting — I’m available.”
As sure as Rodgers will be the starter next season – given he’s healthy – former first round pick Zach Wilson will also be elsewhere. He struggled mightily while filling in for Rodgers this year, and has thus far failed to live up to his draft status. Rodgers befriended the still-young Wilson last offseason, and hopes the BYU product lands on his feet in the league: “Sometimes a change of scenery can be a breath of fresh air.”
It also sounds like Rodgers is looking for things to be distilled down even further, with an unyielding focus on consistently achieving victories: “Anything in this building that we’re doing that has nothing to do with winning needs to be assessed. Everything that we do has to have a purpose … the bullshit that has nothing to do with winning has to get out of the building.”
What does that mean for Rodgers’ typically-controversial appearances on The Pat McAfee show? He just made waves by suggesting Jimmy Kimmel didn’t want the Jeffrey Epstein “list” to come out. Some reporters asked Rodgers on Monday if he wants to walk any of those comments back: “I’m going to talk about it (Tuesday) on the show.” And one would figure the pair will find some time to talk football as well.
