On His First Day as a Jet, Rodgers Says the Team Can Win It All

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Aaron Rodgers walked into the Jets’ facility on Wednesday for his introductory news convention to applause from staffers after they watched a montage of his highlights from his 18-year tenure with the Green Bay Packers.

Rodgers, the quarterback for whom the Jets traded this week after a prolonged negotiation course of, had landed in New Jersey the evening earlier than. On Wednesday morning, he attended conferences with Jets officers whereas barefoot, Coach Robert Saleh stated. Rodgers additionally walked previous a case holding the group’s solely Super Bowl trophy, which the Jets gained within the 1968 season, and stated he observed it was “getting lonely.”

Rodgers appeared relaxed and at dwelling throughout his first official day as a Jet, bringing optimism that one of many biggest quarterbacks of the fashionable period can restore success to a franchise within the N.F.L.’s largest market. The Jets haven’t made the playoffs since 2010, proudly owning the longest postseason drought in main North American males’s skilled sports activities, however the group and Rodgers hope that his arrival — even towards the top of his profession — will finish that streak.

“I’m an old guy, so I want to be part of a team that can win it all, and I believe that this is a place where we get that done,” stated the 39-year-old Rodgers.

The Jets and Packers formally agreed to commerce phrases on Wednesday after news of the deal broke on Monday. The Jets despatched the No. 13 total decide on this yr’s draft, in addition to two later-round picks and a conditional second-round decide within the 2024 N.F.L. draft, in alternate for Rodgers, the No. 15 decide and a later-round decide on this yr’s draft. The first spherical begins Thursday in Kansas City, Mo.

Rodgers gained a Super Bowl, appeared in 4 different N.F.C. championship video games and gained the Most Valuable Player Award 4 instances whereas with the Packers. But he grew disgruntled with the franchise over the previous two seasons due to a perceived lack of enter over personnel choices, amongst different grievances. Rodgers alluded to his strained relationship with the Packers on Wednesday when he blamed poor cellphone reception at his dwelling as a motive he had not communicated with Green Bay officers this low season.

After the Packers completed 8-9 final season and missed the playoffs, Rodgers contemplated retiring. A cadre of Jets executives in March — together with Saleh, the group proprietor Woody Johnson and General Manager Joe Douglas — visited Rodgers in Malibu, Calif., and that dialog helped sway Rodgers to hitch the Jets, he stated.

“At that point, I felt like this is where I was supposed to be,” Rodgers stated. “I really try and listen to the signs and synchronicities that the universe puts in our face every day, and this was basically the direction that everything was pointing.”

Later in March, Rodgers appeared on the previous N.F.L. punter Pat McAfee’s present and stated he supposed to play for the Jets. In the weeks after, Douglas and Brian Gutekunst, the Packers’ normal supervisor, publicly stated they needed to finalize a deal, however negotiations stretched over six weeks because the groups’ entrance places of work stalemated over compensation. Rodgers, although, stated he was assured the commerce would get accomplished.

“I believed it was going to happen the entire time, it was just a matter of, I think, waiting each other out,” Rodgers stated. He added: “I believe there was some major synchronization to make this happen, but I’m excited about the opportunity here.”

Rodgers performed underneath Nathaniel Hackett, who was employed because the Jets’ offensive coordinator in January, for 3 seasons in Green Bay, and he stated their robust bond was one other promoting level for becoming a member of the Jets.

The Jets’ roster additionally contains final season’s offensive rookie of the yr, receiver Garrett Wilson, and the defensive rookie of the yr, cornerback Sauce Gardner — two gamers who had overtly recruited Rodgers. Gardner and different gamers modified their social media profile footage to a photograph of Rodgers in school, and Gardner additionally videotaped himself burning a Packers cheesehead hat in Rodgers’s honor.

The Jets’ 2022 season began promisingly at 6-3, behind a stout operating recreation and one of many league’s greatest defenses. But inefficient play from quarterback Zach Wilson, the No. 2 total decide within the 2021 N.F.L. draft, brought about Saleh to bench him with seven video games left within the season. With that instability underneath middle and important accidents, most notably to the rookie operating again Breece Hall, the Jets completed 7-10 and missed the playoffs.

Rodgers stated he hopes to be a mentor to Zach Wilson, with whom he had a earlier friendship, and to be a frontrunner within the locker room. Saleh stated Rodgers must be a stabilizing presence, and that his alternative of the Jets was validation that the franchise is efficiently rebuilding itself.

“Obviously you can argue that our arrow’s pointing up,” Saleh stated.

Rodgers stated he envisioned being with the Jets previous this season, however stated he didn’t wish to concentrate on the longer term. His agent, David Dunn, attended the news convention, and Rodgers stated he and the Jets would restructure his contract. But for nonetheless lengthy Rodgers stays a Jet, Johnson stated he could be content material.

“With whatever he wants to do, we’re good,” Johnson stated. “We’re so happy he’s here. This is transformative.”