Aaron Rodgers got New York Jets fans talking with this comment
With the recent changes to his contract, Aaron Rodgers already essentially committed to a second year with the New York Jets, for all intents and purposes.
But what about a third year? Or even a fourth year?
If Rodgers’ latest comment is any indication, the 39-year-old quarterback is not ruling out the possibility of playing with the Jets for more than two seasons.
Rodgers said the Jets’ upcoming trip to Canton won’t have him thinking about his own Hall of Fame induction. His reasoning is that it won’t be for “eight or nine years” down the road.
Rodgers says the trip to Canton won’t have him thinking about his own HOF induction some day. He says that’s “eight or nine years” down the road. 🤔 #Jets
— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) August 1, 2023
Remember: players must be retired for five years before they are eligible for Hall of Fame induction. So, you do the math.
Rodgers is under contract with the Jets for the 2025 season. He has a $2.5 million base salary and a $35 million option bonus that can be exercised, according to Over The Cap. After that, there are four void years on Rodgers’ contract, running through the 2029 season.
Rodgers will turn 40 this December, meaning he will turn 42 in the 2025 season. If he were still with the Jets at that point, he’d become the second 42-year-old quarterback in Jets history, joining Vinny Testaverde. At 42 years and 43 days old in a December 2005 relief appearance against the Patriots, Testaverde is the oldest quarterback to appear in a Jets uniform.
The only other quarterback in NFL history to start 16-plus games at 42 years old is Tom Brady. Of course, Brady followed it up by becoming the first quarterback to start 16 games at 43, 44, and 45 years old, too.
Besides Brady, the only other quarterbacks to start any games in their age-42 season are Warren Moon (10), Testaverde (5), and Doug Flutie (1).
Rodgers’ old mentor, Brett Favre, made it to his age-41 season.
That’s a conversation for another day, though. For now, Rodgers and the Jets are focused on their first outing of the 2023 season: a preseason clash with the Cleveland Browns in Canton this Thursday.
Rodgers will not be playing in the game but said he hopes to get some time on the headset.
Rodgers said he's hoping to get some headset time on Thursday.
— Caroline Hendershot (@cghendy) August 1, 2023
Rodgers did not rule out the possibility of playing at some point in the preseason.
Aaron Rodgers said he wouldn't mind playing in the preseason.
By the way he was speaking, seems like the only game that could happen would be against the Giants (8/26).
— Ethan Greenberg (@EGreenbergJets) August 1, 2023
