The first week of the 2024 NFL season just came to a close and you wouldn’t be wrong to claim that it was full of surprises. The New York Jets closed week 1 of the playoffs against the San Francisco 49ers and it didn’t go according to their plan. Despite having the legendary Aaron Rodgers on their team, the Jets lost to their opponents with a horrid score of 32-19.

Fans weren’t happy with this humbling defeat of the Jets. As the quarterback of the team, Rodgers was predictably blamed for the loss. Now, he will soon find himself caught in more criticism.

Aaron Rodgers’ lack of training cost the team their first victory

The San Francisco 49ers were very close to winning Super Bowl 58 when they lost 22-25. So, when the New Yorkers visited Levi’s Stadium, they were already facing rough odds. A major amount of conviction in fans came from the fact that Aaron Rodgers was going to make the call for most of the offense as the quarterback.

After this upsetting score, Mase and Cam’ron of It Is What It Is discussed the QB’s play and shared their thoughts on the same. “This is what happens when you don’t come to Preseason, you don’t come to practice, you’re above the laws,” said one of them.

Despite having a great arm throw, Rodgers didn’t seem as agile as he used to be. We can attribute this to his growing age, but the co-hosts also felt free to blame the lack of practice. The Gang Green quarterback was out of the entire 2023 season because of his injury. He then ditched the minicamp.

So, it may take a few more games before the superstar can re-enter his element again. Even before this season began, he had already been asked to step off the gridiron and retire for good.

Should Aaron Rodgers hang up the helmet?

The NFL superstar is 40 and has been around for nearly two decades. This is not what football fans are used to seeing in the leagues. Rodgers’ stardom and skills have supported him in getting new contracts that favor him and a part of the audience isn’t bothered by his presence on the field either. However, a former teammate believes that it is time for the footballer to kick up his legs and watch the Super Bowl next time rather than play for it. This old friend was none other than Marshall Newhouse. He was a former offensive tackle for the Green Bay Packers when Rodgers was also a part of the team and they led the team to win the Super Bowl in the year 2011.

Having worked together, Newhouse was respectful in putting forward his views but bluntly claimed that it is “go time” for Aaron Rodgers. He thinks that his ex-colleague has been around long enough. We all know what the QB is capable of. He has nothing to prove, and he can finally relax and hang up the entire football gear. We don’t yet know what Rodgers thinks about retiring as of now. Since his contract as the New York Jets quarterback will come to an end in 2025, that may be the year we will last see him on the gridiron.

Do you think the humbling defeat of the Jets was a sign that Rodgers may be done for good from the sport of football? Let us know your thoughts on his play in the comments below.