Latest NY Jets GM candidate would essentially seal Aaron Rodgers' fate

The NY Jets have begun their extensive search for a new general manager, requesting interviews with nearly a dozen candidates this week. Their latest reported candidate could have serious ramifications on Aaron Rodgers' future with the organization.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported on Tuesday that the Jets are expected to interview Green Bay Packers vice president of player personnel Jon-Eric Sullivan for their vacant general manager position.

Sullivan is one of the top executives in the Packers' organization and it wouldn't be a stretch to say he's the No. 2 decision-maker in Green Bay behind GM Brian Gutekunst. There's only one problem with that.

Rodgers notoriously had a very strained relationship with the Packers' front office toward the end of his tenure in Green Bay, most notably with Gutekunst himself. It's hard to imagine a scenario in which Sullivan is hired and the Jets stick with Rodgers in 2025.

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This potential GM hire would end Aaron Rodgers' Jets career

Sullivan has been with the Packers' organization since 2004, initially getting his start as a college area scout. After two years as the team's college scouting director, Sullivan transitioned into his current player personnel role where he's been for the last seven years.

Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer identified Sullivan as a possible GM candidate earlier this month, highlighting his scouting background, his role in the Matt LaFleur hiring process, and even his work on the cap side of things.

Sullivan was also the scout who, according to Breer, initially "put Jordan Love on Gutekunst's radar" — a notable achievement to add to his resume. That should make him a very intriguing candidate for the Jets.

The Rodgers connection cannot be ignored, however. Given Rodgers' fractured relationship with Gutekunst and many of the top Packers executives, such a hire would almost certainly end his Jets tenure.

In reality, the writing is already on the wall regardless of who the Jets hire. The financial implications of keeping Rodgers on the roster for another year are severe, and it's not as if the four-time MVP is on good terms with Jets ownership anyway.

The overall expectation is that Rodgers has already played his final snap for the Jets. Hiring Sullivan to be the team's next GM would essentially solidify that notion.

The Jets will continue their search for a new GM over the coming weeks, with 12 candidates either having completed interviews or scheduled to do so at the time of writing. Sullivan is a name to keep an eye on, especially as it relates to Rodgers' increasingly uncertain future.

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