Aaron Rodgers spoiled his offensive lineman over the holidays. The quarterback filled their Christmas stockings, it’s claimed, with a suit, a bottle of bourbon, a bottle of cologne, a pair of sunglasses, a speaker, and a designer passport holder.
No one is more generous than ‘Santa Rodgers’, one Jets teammate said. And on this chilly Sunday at MetLife Stadium, he dipped back into his sack and picked out one more treat. A parting gift?
This is expected to be Rodgers’ final game for New York. It could be the 41-year-old’s final ever appearance in the NFL.
If this is it? Well, there are worse ways to end another woeful season. Rodgers made more history and led New York to a 32-20 win over the Miami Dolphins.
But it’s not quite what he promised. Back in April 2023, the quarterback vowed to lead the Jets to a second Super Bowl. In the end? He came closer to the presidential ticket than the Vince Lombardi trophy.
On Sunday, Rodgers provided flashes of his enduring quality and threw for four scores – the most he has managed in any Jets game. He reached another milestone of a glittering career, too, becoming the fifth quarterback in NFL history to reach 500 touchdown passes.
Aaron Rodgers led the Jets to victory over the Dolphins in what could be his final NFL game
Rodgers threw for four scores – the most he has managed in any game as a Jets player
Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Peyton Manning and Brett Favre are the only others to break that barrier. And yet it felt rather fitting that Rodgers joined the 500 club like this. In a meaningless game. With barely anyone here to witness it.
Even with one of the greats under center, the Jets are a laughing stock. And the gallows humor continued here.
Rodgers threw an interception with his very first pass. He lined up at wide receiver. A trick play saw Allen Lazard attempt a touchdown pass to the quarterback. It was comical. But also a bit sad.
To think that fewer than 500 days have passed since electricity and energy surged around this slice of New Jersey for all of three plays. Then Rodgers went down and all hope and anticipation evaporated.
It has never returned. On that opening night, the quarterback emerged – carrying the Stars and Stripes – into a wall of noise and color. He headed back down that same tunnel on Sunday. After what he has called ‘the best two years of (his) life’.
But MetLife was virtually empty and the sun had set. On a miserable season. Perhaps on an era that once promised so much and a career that delivered so much.
Hours earlier, the fans who trickled off the trains at Meadowlands were met by blue skies but also a biting wind and rumors that had begun to swirl: yes, this really could be it.
Reports emerged that several people close to Rodgers had begun to prepare for the next chapter -not just life away from the Jets but life away from the NFL altogether.
The 41-year-old combined with Davante Adams as the Jets secured victory at MetLife Stadium
Rodgers celebrates with offensive lineman Max Mitchell after throwing his 500th career TD
Rodgers teased that possibility earlier in the week as he reflected on all he has given to this game and all it has afforded him. Those last 20 years would not be on his mind, Rodgers insisted, when it came to game day. But it must have been hard not to glance up at the big screen.
As the Jets wrapped up warmups, the jumbotron showed the closing moments of the Chicago Bears’ win at the Green Bay Packers. At Lambeau Field, where it all began for Rodgers back in September 2008.
The Packers – where Rodgers spent 18 seasons – are preparing for the playoffs; here, they can’t even unfurl a flag without a hitch. Shortly before kickoff, dozens of fans fanned out across the field holding a giant, green Jets flag. It was the wrong way up.
At least there was barely anyone here to see the blunder. The flag had disappeared by the time the players lined up for the national anthem.
Rodgers locked arms with Davante Adams and Allen Lazard – two of his receivers in Green Bay – and then attempted to link up with his old friend. On the Jets’ first play of the game, the quarterback threw to Adams; the pass was picked off. Rodgers could only shake his head.
A few minutes later, Rodgers and Adams exchanged laterals and the receiver was crushed. Three targets across two drives and, all the Jets had to show for it? One interception and negative one yards.
A grim start but a neat illustration of how – at the Jets – not much works like it should. Or, in the case of Rodgers and Adams, as it once did. What a miserable couple of years these have been. Ever since Rodgers’ Achilles snapped and his first Jets season ended before it really began.
Even after returning to the field, the quarterback has been in rehab – at least that’s how it’s felt to him.
Rodgers’ first pass of the game against the Miami Dolphins was intercepted by the defense
The 41-year-old locked arms with Adams and Allen Lazard during the national anthem
To think that Rodgers vowed to win the second Super Bowl of his career – and Jets history. Instead, New York had a higher win percentage with Zach Wilson under center. Hope turned to despair and, eventually, weariness.
That isn’t solely on Rodgers, of course. The Jets are a broken organization without a head coach or a general manager. It looks almost certain that they’ll need a new quarterback soon, too. They won’t find one as experienced or decorated as Rodgers.
Rodgers went to 500 touchdowns with a short pass to Tyler Conklin. He kept the ball and soaked up the acclaim from the Jets bench. He moved to 501 with a 13-yard pass to Lazard.
Rodgers let out a smirk as took a seat on the bench. He had some more fun in the second half as the Jets dug deep into the playbook. And then he threw touchdowns No 502 and 503 to make victory safe. Two short passes – to Adams and then to Breece Hall.
It meant Rodgers ended the game with 274 yards and four scoring passes. Now the time has come to choose what comes next. To decide if this really is goodbye.
