Before going into his «obscurity retirement,» Aaron Rodgers, in his own words, was «90% retired» and ready to leave the Green Bay Packers.
When he emerged from the darkness, the quarterback was still ready to leave Wisconsin. But Rodgers decided to become a New York Jet, and she loves his decision with the team’s opening training camp.
Rodgers admitted that he wanted to retire as a Packer and be one of «the Tim Duncans, the [Derek] Jeters, the Kobes [Bryant] of the world», but signaled that it was time for a change.
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New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers exercises during training camp at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center in Florham Park, NJ, on Thursday. (Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
«This has definitely rejuvenated me. I’m excited to be in a new place, excited to meet new guys and just be around everything,» Rodgers told ESPN New York radio’s Rick DiPietro and Dave Rothernberg on Friday.
Rodgers has enjoyed everything the Big Apple has to offer. Just hours and days after being officially introduced as a New York Jet, he was taking part in the Knicks and Rangers playoff games at Madison Square Garden. In May, he attended a Taylor Swift Eras Tour show at the home of his new team, MetLife Stadium.
«This was a great opportunity for me. It’s fun to have everything so new, because there are new people to meet, there are new places to go,» Rodgers said. «I really enjoyed the city, being able to go to restaurants and concerts and MSG. You have so many sporting events. That’s been a lot of fun for me. As much as I love Green Bay and have so much affection for that place, it’s a little slower.»
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers poses with a jersey after a news conference at the team’s training facility in Florham Park, New Jersey on April 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Rodgers is entering his 19th season and will turn 40 in December, when he expects the Jets to be close to clinching their first playoff berth since the 2010 season. So, retirement isn’t exactly far off.
But the four-time MVP feels he owes it to the organization to play more than one season.
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«I’m not a big cliché. Most people would say, ‘I’m taking this one day at a time or one year at a time,’ but the Jets gave a lot for me. So to play just one year, I think, would be a disservice,» Rodgers said.
«Now if that year turns out to be a magic year, who knows? But it’s more than that. It’s how my body feels… But the way I feel now, I feel like I could play several years.»
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers speaks to reporters after the team’s OTAs at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center in Florham Park, NJ on June 9, 2023. (Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
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New York went 7-10 last season. Despite missing the playoffs, the Jets have young talent on the rise. They have the reigning offensive and defensive rookies of the year in Garrett. Wilson and Willow Gardner, respectively, the latter of whom was a first-team All-Pro. And running back Breece Hall, who was on pace to earn top offensive rookie honors before tearing an ACL midseason, appears to be healthy for 2023.