After the New York Jets moved on from Aaron Rodgers, the quarterback waited more than two months to speak out, and he didn’t hold back.
Neither did former general manager Mike Tannenbaum, who helped owner Woody Johnson lead the team’s search for a new head coach and general manager this offseason.
Appearing on ESPN’s ‘Get Up’ on Friday morning, Tannenbaum lambasted Rodgers, calling him a “hostage” and saying he is “disinterested” in being an NFL quarterback.
“Ironically, what Mike Tomlin would say: ‘We want volunteers, not hostages,'” Tannenbaum said. “This is a guy that’s disinterested in being an NFL quarterback…it’s over.”
Tannenbaum’s comments came a day after the 41-year-old appeared on “The Pat McAfee Show” and aired his grievances with the Jets, taking multiple shots at the organization.
“I felt there wasn’t an ample amount of respect in that meeting,” Rodgers said. “I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised based on some things I saw over two years.”
Rodgers’ highly anticipated run in New York unraveled quickly, derailed by a torn Achilles just four snaps into 2023 and ending with a 5-12 finish in 2024.
The former GM’s comments regarding Rodgers may have been fueled by the future Hall of Famer’s public criticism of first-year head coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey, whom he helped hire.
Tannenbaum’s harsh words reflect just how much Rodgers’ tenure in New York soured, both on and off the field.
As Rodgers continues to voice his frustrations, the Jets have moved forward. From the outset of the offseason, Glenn and Mougey made it clear they were seeking a clean slate at quarterback and avoiding as many off-field distractions as possible.
