Anyone who knows Aaron Rodgers for what he is, it’s Allen Lazard. After spending five years together in Green Bay, Lazard followed Rodgers to New York. Within a month of Rodgers signing with the Jets in 2023, Lazard was picked as a free agent last year. Although the two didn’t get to play more than 4 snaps because of Rodgers’ ACL injury last season, this year hasn’t been great either. This has led to many considering, including Aaron Rodgers, whether it’s time to hang up his cleats.

However, Lazard doesn’t believe that the future Hall of Famer isn’t ready to go out this way. Instead, he thinks that Rodgers is just playing with the media: “I think he’s just doing it for the headlines and the clicks and the attention. But with him, you never know.” That last bit reveals that Lazard is also in two minds about whether Rodgers will continue or not. Well, Lazard didn’t just expose the 41-year-old’s plans for retirement. He then went on to express his gratitude for having someone like him by his side in the NFL.

“He’s helped me out, not only on the field, but off the field, too. Just the leader and the man that he is, and how he carries himself and how he handles the controversy of just being the star that he is.” One of those moments of their bonding came in week 3 when Lazard caught his first TD pass against the Patriots. He ran with the football and presented it to Rodgers on the field. And after the game, Lazard gifted his jersey to Rodgers as a token of his gratitude.

Seeing Lazard’s gestures toward him, the four-time NFL MVP called it “a respect thing.” As for Lazard, he helped the veteran QB etch a bit of history during their Green Bay days. Going back to 2021, when Lazard caught Rodgers’ 443rd TD pass, it helped then-Packers QB to surpass another Green Bay legend Brett Favre’s TD record. Even this season, Lazard was the one who received Rodgers’ first TD pass in Jets colors.

Although the two share a strong bond, it hasn’t really worked out for them in New York. But the Jets cannot just cut Rodgers off their payroll. The only solution is retirement.

Aaron Rodgers’ foreseeable future in New York

The Jets could incur huge cap hits if they do decide to cut Rodgers after this season. They will incur a dead cap hit of $49M that will be spread over two seasons. $14M in 2025, and then the remaining $35M in 2026. However, there’s also another way the Jets could save some money by showing Rodgers the door. Cutting the Jets QB after June 1st will see them incur just $14M in dead cap hit. Well, they could also save $9.5M the following summer.

But the thing is, if Rodgers does decide to play this season under his three-year contract, the Jets will have to pay his $23.5M cap charge. So the only way to save themselves from all those finances will be a prompt retirement by Rodgers. However, it doesn’t look like Rodgers is thinking about hanging his cleats, as per the interview he gave to Pat McAfee. Two weeks earlier, Rodgers said, “As far as my future goes. I haven’t told anybody in my life that I wanna play in 2025 but not for the Jets. That’s 100% false.”

Well, Rodgers was addressing some rumors that had him playing elsewhere after this season. He then went on to add that he is not ready to give up yet, “I’ve really enjoyed my time in New York. I’ve made some great friendships with the team, and I’ve enjoyed living in Jersey. So I’m not jumping off ship.” So here’s your answer: like Lazard already revealed, Rodgers ain’t going anywhere. He is set to come back and probably help the Jets next season under a new head coach and a GM.