Jets proprietor Woody Johnson fired coach Robert Saleh on Oct. 8 following a 2-3 file, believing the crew was underachieving.
Following Saleh’s firing, the Jets completed 3-9 beneath interim coach Jeff Ulbrich and 5-12 general.
Johnson additionally fired common supervisor Joe Douglas amid a disappointing season. When Johnson fired Saleh, he believed the Jets have been probably the greatest rosters he has had since turning into proprietor in 2000.
Heading into an offseason stuffed with uncertainty, Johnson spoke to the media after Sunday’s sport towards Miami and stated he was completely satisfied the Jets ended the season positively regardless of a disappointing 12 months.
“Everybody thought this was going to — not just me, [everybody] thought we were talented,” Johnson informed reporters following the Jets 32-20 victory towards the Dolphins. “All of the networks which might be paying thousands and thousands of {dollars}, they put us in 5 prime instances, six prime time [games].
“So everybody thought this was going to be unbelievable. So from that standpoint, yeah, we didn’t live up to that early opinion of virtually everybody, but we ended up well because I don’t care about anything else. But a win at the end was good. So we beat ‘em today. They played well, they didn’t give up. Everybody showed up and we did some really nice things.”
After they acquired Aaron Rodgers in a commerce with the Packers in 2023, the Jets have been pegged as Tremendous Bowl contenders. Many believed that with Rodgers nonetheless taking part in at a excessive degree together with the Jets’ protection, which was a top-five unit, they might finish their long-dreaded playoff drought.
However Rodgers tore his Achilles 4 performs into his debut on Sept. 11, 2023, and missed the remainder of that season. The Jets completed 7-10 and missed the playoffs as soon as once more.
The 2024 season was imagined to be completely different after Rodgers returned from his Achilles tear. Nonetheless, after battling ankle, hamstring, and knee accidents, Rodgers’ play was uneven at instances, a lot in order that Johnson steered benching him following the Jets’ Week 4 loss to the Broncos, in response to sources.
Regardless of all of the adversity the Jets confronted and their 14th consecutive season of lacking the postseason, Rodgers, 41, threw for 3,897 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. Now, Johnson and the brand new common supervisor should resolve Rodgers’ destiny.
Honestly, the Jets have been worse with Rodgers beneath heart than they have been with out him beneath earlier starter Zach Wilson. Gang Inexperienced gave Rodgers every thing he needed from buying his pals [Davante Adams, Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb] and made additions on either side of the ball, hoping they may make a run at a Tremendous Bowl.
However the crew was eradicated from playoff competition earlier than Christmas.
Rodgers is beneath contract for 2025 however has zero cash remaining on his contract. If the Jets launch Rodgers, they are going to take up a $49 million wage cap cost that they may break up between the 2025 and 2026 seasons.
“I don’t know, I honestly don’t know,” Rodgers stated after Sunday’s sport. “If I did, I don’t know that I’d inform you, so I’ll say that out of respect, however in truth, I don’t know.
“I’m looking forward to those conversations with Woody (Johnson) and Christopher (Johnson) and Hymie (Elhai) and Phil (Savage) and anybody else. It feels good to be able to do some of the things the last five or six weeks that I knew I was capable of doing even at 40, 41, but either way I won’t be upset or offended.”
Rodgers might additionally choose to retire from the sport altogether. He informed reporters final week that he would take his time after the season to find out if he desires to proceed taking part in.
Rodgers had considered one of his greatest video games of the season towards the Dolphins on Sunday. He completed 23-of-36 for 274 yards, 4 touchdowns, and one interception. He additionally threw his five hundredth profession landing move in the course of the second quarter to tight finish Tyler Conklin. Rodgers turned the fifth quarterback in NFL historical past to realize that mark.
With a brand new entrance workplace and head coach coming to the Jets subsequent season, Rodgers is aware of his future is out of his management.
The Jets have already begun interviewing candidates for his or her teaching and common supervisor roles. Final week, the Jets interviewed each former Panthers and Commanders coach Ron Rivera and former Titans coach Mike Vrabel for the teaching place and can interview ex-Jets coach Rex Ryan on Tuesday.
To date, Former Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff, former Titans GM Jon Robinson, Senior Bowl director Jim Nagy, and ESPN analyst Louis Reddick have interviewed for the Jets common supervisor place. A brand new common supervisor and coach might probably select a youthful method at quarterback and never convey again Rodgers, who shall be 42 subsequent December.
However he stated hypothetically that if the Jets wish to transfer on and he doesn’t choose to retire, he might see himself taking part in for an additional crew.
“There’s obviously a lot of hypotheticals here,” Rodgers stated. “If I wish to play—hypothetical primary. In the event that they wish to transfer on—hypothetical quantity two. Would I be prepared to play for an additional crew—hypothetical quantity three.
“The answer is yes.”
