Aaron Rodgers' New York Jets were beaten 26-21 by the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday to condemn them to a losing season, with the veteran quarterback's future with the team up in the air
Cameron Winstanley and Cameron Winstanley
00:00, 03 Dec 2024
The New York Jets and quarterback Aaron Rodgers have been condemned to a losing season amid questions about his future after another defeat.
The veteran's performance was one of his worst games this season in the 26-21 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. This has only increased concerns about his immediate future and involvement in the NFL next season. Rodgers went into the crucial game against the Seahawks in the worst form of his career, having achieved 2,442 passing yards, 17 touchdown passes and seven interceptions.
The 41-year-old's decline has been steep, with this being only the second time in the last eight years he's had at least seven interceptions in a single season – having 12 with the Green Bay Packers in 2022. The defeat at MetLife Stadium has raised more serious questions, particularly after one play in the second quarter where Rodgers threw too deep into the endzone, leaving Garrett Wilson grasping at thin air despite being in considerable space.
If Rodgers had made the shot, the Jets would have led 28-7, but just one play later, he threw a pick-6 and the Jets ended up defeated. A scoreless second-half for the Jets saw them unable to maintain their lead as the Seahawks claimed the fourth quarter 10-0 to secure the five-point victory.
With just five games remaining, the Jets will clock another losing season even if they improve on their dismal run of one win in nine games. The team's poor form has sparked speculation about Aaron Rodgers' future with the franchise.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport considers it unlikely that Rodgers will stay on for next season, labelling the chance of him returning for the Jets next year a "long shot". Rodgers, who has a $35million option bonus for the 2025 season, has seen his name circulated in the rumour mill.
Recently on 'The Pat McAfee Show,' Rodgers didn't lock in his future with the Jets amid rumours he's already decided against returning next season. "I don't even know if I want to play yet, but New York would be my first option," he revealed. "As far as my future goes, I haven't told anybody in my life that I want to play in 2025 and not on the Jet. That's 100% false. I actually said the opposite."
Rodgers elaborated, saying, "I said that I'm going to wait and see what happens at the end of the season, and if they want me back, what happens with [interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich], what happens with the offensive staff, obviously the GM at the time. They just fired Joe."
He added, "There's a lot of things out of my control when it comes to that, but I've really enjoyed my time in New York. Obviously, we haven't had the success we all wanted to have. But I've made some great friendships on the team."
"I've enjoyed living in Jersey, I've enjoyed my time in the city, I've enjoyed getting to know the fans. And I came here to win here. So I'm not jumping off ship like, 'Oh, I definitely want to play and not in New York.'".