Boomer Esiason believes Jets would be in playoff hunt with Aaron Rodgers

Former New York Jets quarterback Boomer Esiason joined the Up & Adams Show with Kay Adams on Monday to talk about the team’s latest disaster. Worse yet, for some Jets fans, the bad man’s name was raised, for which Esiason provided a refreshing answer.

When asked if the Jets would be in the playoff hunt with Aaron Rodgers as their quarterback, Esiason provided a concrete answer on the show’s Boomer or Bust segment.

“Boom. 100% boom,” Esiason proclaimed. “But I know why they got rid of Aaron. When Aaron went on Pat McAfee and said, ‘I’ve never been fired by a teenager before,’ meaning Brick Johnson, Woody Johnson’s son, he was playing off the fact that decisions were made because of Brick Johnson playing Madden.

“That really annoyed the ownership here. So, they brought in Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey, and they said, ‘You get rid of Aaron Rodgers.'”

Esiason, 64, played three seasons with the Jets, all of which featured a different head coach.

Boomer joined the New York Jets in 1993 when he reunited with his former Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator, Bruce Coslet, who had risen the ranks to become the Jets’ head coach a few years prior. A year later, he played for rookie head coach Pete Carroll, a season that saw now-Jets head coach Aaron Glenn play out his rookie season.

Of course, Rich Kotite’s first season with the Jets (in 1995) was Boomer’s last in New Jersey. Bommer found his next home with the Arizona Cardinals, whereas the Jets’ spending spree of 1996 welcomed Neil O’Donnell into the fold.

Esiason, who is no longer one part of the NFL on CBS studio crew, is still one-half of WFAN’s morning drive show with Gregg Giannotti (formerly Craig Carton). Therefore, no matter his genuine knowledge of the Jets organization’s ins and outs, his professional football and New York media standing is one that’s tough to refute.

As everybody knows, the Jets moved on from Rodgers this past offseason, deciding to take $49 million in dead cap. Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey opted to sign Justin Fields to a two-year, $40 million deal (with $30 million in guarantees) as his replacement.

Glenn’s Jets fell to 0-6 after their disheartening 13-11 loss to the Denver Broncos in London on Sunday. Meanwhile, Rodgers’s Pittsburgh Steelers are now 4-1, as the aging quarterback has thrown for 10 touchdowns to 3 interceptions on the season.

“When Aaron Rodgers found out they were signing Justin Fields, he had to be like, ‘What?'” Esiason added. “I think Aaron Rodgers landed on his feet in a much better place and much more stable situation with Mike Tomlin there in Pittsburgh. But I would say, ‘Yes, they (Jets) would be in the playoff hunt [with] Rodgers as their quarterback.'”

Interestingly, the areas where the Jets struggled offensively last year are the same places they have shown significant improvement in 2025 (offensive line play, a respectable rushing attack, etc.). While those who dislike the evil man in question will scoff at the notion of the Jets being in the “playoff hunt” with Aaron Rodgers, Boomer Esiason isn’t even close to crazy for making that proclamation—particularly at the six-game mark of the season.