“Hard pass”: NFL fans react as Aaron Rodgers addresses possible retirement after Jets 3-7 record

The New York Jets’ dismal 3-7 start to the season has reignited speculation about the future of veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Despite Rodgers’ previous firm rejection of retirement talk in 2022, the 40-year-old has once again found himself facing questions about his plans beyond this year.

When asked directly about retirement this Wednesday, Aaron Rodgers replied:

“I think so, yeah … not really, not for the negative,” he added. “I’m not playing as well as I would’ve liked to play, for sure. The beauty in this game is it’s a team game”

This indicates that he still intends to return next season. However, the apparent lukewarm playmaking has done little to remove the concerns of a Jets fanbase that has grown increasingly frustrated with the team’s struggles under Rodgers’.

Aaron Rodgers’ subpar performance this season, marked by a dismal 86.8 passer rating, just 15 touchdowns against seven interceptions, and a mere 2,258 passing yards through 10 games, has drawn the ire of the Jets faithful.

One fan bluntly put it on X:

“Hard pass for me”

The sentiment was echoed by another fan in X, who said:

“Time to leave and retire bro.”

“god dammit” wrote another fan.

“Not for us” said another.

“The Jets need an identity starting with a shiny new QB that is in the same age group as the players the team is looking to keep in 2025 and beyond,” analysed another fan.

“He needs to retire he lost his touch,” one fan commented.

These frustrations are understandable, as the Jets have had only five winning seasons since Aaron Rodgers entered the league 20 years ago.

How Aaron Rodgers’s return might limit the Jets’ future rebuild

NFL: New York Jets at Arizona Cardinals – Source: Imagn

The Jets’ decision to trade for the 40-year-old Aaron Rodgers in the 2023 offseason was viewed as a bold move to end their long playoff drought, the longest in the NFL.

However, the team’s continued woes have left many fans wondering if the gamble has backfired. With Rodgers under contract through 2025, the Jets face a tricky dilemma: do they double down on the aging quarterback, or do they seek a younger option who can lead the team’s long-overdue rebuild?

Rodgers’ contract, which includes a $35 million option bonus, could hamper the team’s ability to invest in younger talent and redefine its identity. The veteran quarterback’s desire to play more years, as he said last offseason, may not align with the Jets’ long-term vision, creating a potential clash between player and franchise.

For a franchise mired in a 54-year Super Bowl drought, the clash between Rodgers’ determination to continue and the fans’ desire for a fresh start has become the latest chapter in the Jets’ seemingly never-ending struggle.