NY Jets QB Aaron Rodgers posts cryptic message hinting at a return
By Justin Fried
NY Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers is pondering his NFL future following a season-ending torn Achilles suffered in Week 1 on Monday Night Football. Rodgers hasn't announced his intentions yet, but he did comment for the first time since his injury on Wednesday.
In a post on Instagram, Rodgers expressed gratitude for the support he's received over the last 48 hours before seemingly hinting that he has no plans to retire.
Rodgers finished his post by saying, "The night is darkest before the dawn. And I shall rise yet again." That certainly sounds like someone who has no intentions to retire anytime soon.
While it's still unclear what Rodgers' plans for the future are — and we likely won't definitively know for quite some time — his first public statement since the unfortunate injury has many fans believing we haven't seen the last of him in a Jets jersey.
NY Jets QB Aaron Rodgers seemingly has no plans to retire
Rodgers' statement just reaffirms the belief that many already have about his future. The consensus seems to be, at least by those close to him, that there's no way the four-time MVP wants to go out this way.
Jets head coach Robert Saleh told reporters on Wednesday that he would be "shocked" if Rodgers retired after this season. This echoes the sentiment expressed by the likes of Pat McAfee and former teammate A.J. Hawk as well — two of his closest friends.
Rodgers would be walking away from an awful lot if he decided to call it quits. He'd be turning down over $60 million in money remaining on his contract. He'd be throwing away all the time and energy he invested into the Jets organization over the last half year.
Rodgers doesn't seem like the type of individual who wants to end his Hall-of-Fame career on such a sour note — a highly anticipated stint with the Jets that lasted just four plays. He's the ultimate competitor, and he seemingly genuinely cares about this organization.
Rodgers has invested far too much into the Jets to walk away after just four snaps. That's what many around him seem to believe, and that's what the man himself hinted at with his first public statement.
We don't know what the future holds for Aaron Rodgers and the Jets, but it sure sounds like the 10-time Pro Bowler is gearing up for a run at Comeback Player of the Year in 2024.