Rodgers Publicly Slams Jets For ‘Shocking’ Firing, Creating Yet More Bad Publicity

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by Katherine ManzMay 2, 2025, 12:14 am >

Aaron Rodgers didn’t mince words when he recently appeared on the Pat McAfee Show.

“I’ve flown across the country, and 20 seconds in, I’m talking to the GM, and [New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn] leans to the edge of his seat and says: ‘You’re sure you want to play football?’ And I said, ‘Yeah, I’m interested.’ And he said, ‘We’re going in another direction at quarterback.’”

Rodgers, who’s been a primary subject of offseason speculation since his announced release by the Jets in February, said he was “kind of shocked” by the firing. He had assumed, despite a hugely disappointing two years in New York, that Glenn had asked to meet with him to discuss directions for the team going forward. Again, he repeated, he “flew across the country on [his] own dime.”

Rodgers went on to detail his hostile conversation with Glenn following the announcement, deriding the Jets’ leadership and Glenn’s character. He discussed the possibility of signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers – he’s spoken to head coach Mike Tomlin “many times” – and called New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll a “beautiful football mind.” Rodgers, 41, said that he was willing to play for $10 million, less than any other quarterback except those on rookie contracts.

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But the headline, really, is how Rodgers has decided to handle the end of his tenure with the Jets.

Rodgers’ arrival to the Jets two offseasons ago conjured hope in the hearts of a fanbase that’s still nursing the longest ongoing playoff drought in North American professional sports. He promised a revamp, surrounding himself with coaches and players that he had liked in the past, including Dalvin Cook and Allen Lazard.

The Jets went 7-10 in 2023, a season in which Rodgers suffered a season-ending injury in the first game. With his return in 2024, a team that many had projected to win the AFC East limped to a 5-12 finish.

And Rodgers hasn’t just failed to deliver on the field. He’s made headlines for other reasons, whether that’s parroting conspiracy theories or hinting that he would be back from his ACL tear by the end of the 2023 season (he wasn’t).

It’s not hard to see why Rodgers may not fit into the culture the Jets hope to build – and Rodgers’ segment on the Pat McAfee Show doesn’t do much to disprove that.