New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers isn’t ready to hang up the cleats just yet.

Thanks to a meager 3-7 start to the season, the Jets currently stand as a far shot to make the playoffs despite entering the year with Super Bowl aspirations. With little else but pride to play for the remainder of the season, the focus in New York has already shifted to the 2025-26 campaign – and Rodgers’ role in it.

On Wednesday, Rodgers was asked if he still wanted to play next season. “I think so, yeah,” the four-time MVP replied – his answer hardly exuding the bullish confidence that prior responses to the question displayed.

Rodgers’ slight hesitation when committing himself to another year of playing in New York is for good reason. Should the Jets continue to spiral downward this season, an extensive rebuild will likely take place over the offseason.

As for Rodgers, he’s set to turn 41 years old in less than 20 days – and, at times, looking his age on the field when he displays a lack of mobility or is slow to get up after a big hit. The star signal-caller has additionally battled a myriad of health setbacks, including hamstring, knee, and ankle injuries, but has yet to miss any playing time this year.

According to Rodgers, however, the disappointing outcome of this season will have little impact on his decision to suit up next year. “Not really, not for the negative, no,” he said when asked if the 2024-25 campaign has changed his outlook on playing in the future.

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Aaron Rodgers and the Jets have failed to live up to the Super Bowl expectations placed on them this year

Aaron Rodgers and the Jets have failed to live up to the Super Bowl expectations placed on them this year ( 

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Since coming to the Jets via a trade with the Green Bay Packers last April, Rodgers has hardly lived up to expectations as the potential “savior” of a downtrodden franchise. His first year in New York was derailed in just four plays after he suffered a season-ending torn Achilles tendon.

Upon returning to the field this season, Rodgers has struggled to replicate the past success he achieved in Green Bay. Over 10 games, he’s completed 219-of-351 passes for 2,258 yards, 15 touchdowns, and seven interceptions, while his 52.0 Total QBR ranks 24th out of 32 qualified passers.

The down season is not lost on Rodgers, who asserted that he has to perform better. “I’m not playing as well as I would’ve liked to play, for sure,” he said. “The beauty in this game is it’s a team game. The frustrating part is that if you’re a great competitor, you hold yourself to a standard that’s not unrealistic, and I haven’t reached that standard this year.”

If New York were to bring Rodgers back for another season, his cap charge would come out to $23.5 million in 2025. Should the two sides part ways, the Jets would incur a whopping $49 million in dead cap money that could be spread out over two seasons – with the team owing $14 million next year and $35 million in 2026.