When the Green Bay Packers first traded future Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets, he was lauded as that franchise’s savior, who would lead them out of over a decade of mediocrity and onto the level of Super Bowl contenders.
Jordan Love, meanwhile, was doubted by the national media and many of his own team’s fans, just as Rodgers was when he took over for Brett Favre back in 2008.
The trade happened a little less than two years ago, and a great deal has changed for both quarterbacks since then.
Green Bay Packers Quarterback Jordan Love and New York Jets Star Aaron Rodgers Have Had 2 Very Different Experiences Since the Trade
Rodgers, of course, was lost for the entire 2023 NFL season after he tore his Achilles four snaps into New York’s Week One game versus the Buffalo Bills.
Love, on the other hand, overcame a slow start to the season in his first year as a starter to lead the Packers to a 9-8 record and a spot in the NFL Playoffs. He also happened to have the best first-season as a starter of any quarterback in franchise history:
| Quarterback | Completion % | Yards | Touchdowns | Interceptions | Passer Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jordan Love | 64.2% | 4,159 | 32 | 11 | 96.1 |
| Aaron Rodgers | 63.6% | 4,038 | 28 | 13 | 93.8 |
| Brett Favre | 64.1% | 3,227 | 18 | 13 | 85.3 |
And while Rodgers has been healthy in 2024, the gap between the two is still staggering.
Love and the Packers are currently 9-3 while he has completed 63.0% of his passes for 2,518 yards, 20 touchdowns, 11 interceptions, and a 95.8 passer rating.
Rodgers and the Jets, on the other hand, are 3-9 while the four-time NFL MVP has completed 62.5% of his passes for 2,627 yards, 19 touchdowns, eight interceptions, and an 87.5 passer rating.
The New York Jets Are Going to Stick with Former Green Bay Packers Quarterback Aaron Rodgers… For Now
Obviously, for a team to be 3-9, there needs to be a lot that goes wrong. While New York’s woes are not entirely the fault of Rodgers, he has played a significant role in their struggles and late-game collapses. He played so poorly on Sunday in their loss to the Arizona Cardinals that many wondered if he had played his last game for the Jets.
Indeed, the thought was that he would [finally] be benched.
But interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich said today that Rodgers is his starting quarterback, presumably for the rest of the year.
According to Rich Cimini of ESPN, Ulbrich said:
“Yeah, he’s done amazing things. He’s done legendary things, Hall of Fame things in this league, and I think that’s always part of the conversation. Always.
“He’s our quarterback.
“He’s battled through a lot of things, regardless of your age. What he’s had is something that some guys in this league may not play with, so he’s a tough guy and he feels a high level of accountability to his teammates. It’s why he’s out there every week for us, and we believe, as he gets healthier and his mobility starts to improve, I think you’re going to see a better and better version of him.”
While Rodgers, who turned 41 years old today, may be the Jets starter for the remainder of the season, the same cannot be said for 2025. More and more reports are stating that the feeling around the organization is that he will either retire or be released.
For his part, Rodgers has said that if he decides he wants to play at all in 2025, he wants to play for the Jets.
