Aaron Rodgers is a 39-year-old QB starting fresh with a new team, the Jets. He is not the first quarterback to face this situation. Other great quarterbacks like Brett Favre and Peyton Manning also had to end their careers on different teams than the ones they started on. But Eli Manning, unlike his brother Peyton who joined the Denver Broncos, chose to retire instead of looking for another team.
Rodgers’ last game with the Green Bay Packers was a disappointing 20-16 defeat to the Detroit Lions, which eliminated the Packers from the playoffs in the NFC Wild Card round. To make matters worse, his final pass of the game was intercepted by a Lions player, who ran it back for a touchdown. Eli had seen this coming a year ago, and he had the last laugh on Rodgers & Jets trade.
Eli Manning had the last laugh
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
As ESPN reported in January 2022, Eli Manning commented on Aaron Rodgers’ possible exit from the Green Bay Packers. Eli speculated that Aaron would be the one to initiate the move, saying, “He wanted to get out of here.” This implies that Aaron was ready to part ways with the team that he had played for his whole life. Eli wondered why he would want to do that, especially when he was nearing the end of his career.
On January 29, 2023, Aaron Rodgers played his final game as a Green Bay Packers. “If Aaron leaves, it’s probably going to be his own call. It’s going to be his decision, saying, ‘I want out of here.’ That’s what he basically said last year is he wanted to get out.” – Eli Manning said in January 2022. A year after Eli’s prediction, Aaron Rodgers was finally traded to the New York Jets on March 8, 2023. Eli Manning, who had foreseen Rodgers’ fate with the Packers, got the last laugh.
Can wager Rodgers revive Gang Green?
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
The Packers shocked many fans and analysts when they selected Jordan Love, a quarterback, in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Was this a sign that they were ready to move on from Aaron Rodgers, their star quarterback since 2008? Rodgers has led the Packers to one Super Bowl victory (XLV) and four NFC Championship appearances, but he has also faced disappointment and frustration in his quest for another ring.
After all these incidents, Rodgers expressed his desire to play for a team that would give him more opportunities to win and more freedom to run the offense. Was the empire state the best landing spot?
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Many people doubt that the New York Jets are the right team for Rodgers, given their long history of losing and missing the playoffs. The Jets have not reached the postseason since 2010, and they have only had one winning season in the last 12 years. But Rodgers is not deterred by the critics. Aaron Rodgers believes that the Gang Green has the potential to be a playoff contender, and he is eager to help them turn things around.