Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets made history this season, but not the kind anyone hoped for. Despite the challenges, Rodgers, 41, is trying to maintain his humor about the situation.
In the Jets’ 40-14 loss to the Buffalo Bills on December 29, Rodgers was sacked four times, setting an NFL record with 568 career sacks. This surpassed Tom Brady’s previous record of 565.
“Yeah, I got Tom on that,” Rodgers joked with reporters after the game.
Rodgers reached this milestone in his 247th NFL game, while Brady played 335 games in his career. The Jets’ defeat against the Bills marked their sixth loss in seven games, dropping their season record to 4-12 after starting with high hopes for a Super Bowl run.
The frustrations boiled over during the third quarter when Rodgers received an unsportsmanlike penalty for pushing Bills cornerback Christian Benford after throwing his second interception.
“I don’t think I pushed him very hard,” Rodgers commented post-game. Reflecting on the Jets’ struggles, Rodgers acknowledged the team’s disappointing performance.
“Yeah, I mean, it’s kind of like the season — it just got away from us,” he explained. “Too many games got away from us. We were moving the ball well, and then we just hit a wall. And that’s been kind of the season, too.”
The Jets will end their regular season against the Miami Dolphins on January 5. Rodgers has expressed interest in returning next season, but the team has yet to confirm their plans.
ESPN reported that the Jets plan to interview Rex Ryan and Ron Rivera for their head coaching position. After firing head coach Robert Saleh in October, Jeff Ulbrich stepped in as interim coach. However, the team has only managed two wins since Saleh’s dismissal.
During the CBS broadcast of the game, announcer Jim Nantz shared Rodgers’ comments on his uncertain future.
“He looked us right in the eye and said, ‘I really don’t know. I’ll take some time,’” Nantz recalled.
Rodgers’ first season with the Jets has been tumultuous. After a season-ending Achilles injury in 2023, he returned to the field only to endure one of the toughest campaigns of his career. With the Jets facing significant changes, the future remains uncertain for both Rodgers and the franchise.
