NY Jets HC Robert Saleh doesn't believe Aaron Rodgers will retire

What does the future hold for Aaron Rodgers?

NY Jets, Aaron Rodgers
NY Jets, Aaron Rodgers | Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com /

The NFL future of NY Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers remains uncertain following a devastating torn Achilles he suffered in Week 1 against the Buffalo Bills this past Monday night.

There has been plenty of speculation regarding Rodgers' future, with some believing he will retire and others insisting that he has at least one more year left in him. Count Jets head coach Robert Saleh among those who believe the latter.

Saleh spoke to reporters on Wednesday, and when asked about what the future has in store for Rodgers, he suggested that he believes his quarterback will play again in 2024.

Saleh told reporters that he'd be "shocked if this is the way gonna go out." He did make it clear that he has not spoken to Rodgers about his future just yet — that's a conversation for later — but that he believes Rodgers isn't finished.

The NY Jets believe Aaron Rodgers will play in 2024

Rodgers poured his heart into the Jets' organization this offseason. The future Hall-of-Famer did everything in his power to refute the narratives that followed him from his time in Green Bay.

He was a team leader, fully committed to the organization's success. He went out of his way to praise his younger teammates and was an ideal mentor to Zach Wilson. Rodgers was everything we were told he wasn't.

The energy that he put into this franchise over the last few months cannot be understated. That's why it's so disheartening to see it end after just four snaps. He didn't even get to complete a pass.

Saleh doesn't believe that this is how Rodgers will want his NFL career to end. Not to mention, Rodgers would be missing out on over $60 million if he chooses to walk away at the end of the season.

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NFL players not only forfeit future guarantees when they retire but they also could be forced to return a prorated portion of their previously paid-out bonuses. Rodgers isn't exactly hurting for money, but that's a lot of dollars to turn down.

Saleh isn't alone in his belief that Rodgers won't retire. Everyone from Pat McAfee to former teammate A.J. Hawk believes that Rodgers' time with the Jets isn't over yet.

The track record of quarterbacks returning from torn Achilles is much stronger than other positions, especially when it's a QB's plant leg, as is the case with Rodgers. There's no reason why he shouldn't be ready in time for the start of the 2024 season.

Aaron Rodgers is going to take his time to assess his future before making a decision, but if you ask Robert Saleh or most within the Jets' organization, they believe he will be back next year.

His story isn't finished. This isn't how he's going to go out.

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