Free-agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers is considering every option, including retirement, following his release from the New York Jets this offseason.
“I’m open to anything and attached to nothing,” Rodgers said Thursday on “The Pat McAfee Show,” per ESPN’s Brooke Pryor. “Retirement could still be a possibility.”
“I’m at a different phase in my life,” Rodgers added. “I’m 41 years old. I’m in a serious relationship. I have off-the-field stuff going on that requires my attention.”
Rodgers described his meeting with New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn as brief after flying from California to the team’s headquarters. He said the coach left abruptly early in their conversation, returned with general manager Darren Mougey, and told Rodgers “20 seconds in” that the club would head in a new direction at quarterback, according to The Athletic’s Zack Rosenblatt.
“I’ve had a lot of great conversations with a lot of teams. Not one of those was the Jets,” Rodgers said, per Pryor. “That wasn’t a great conversation.”
Rodgers was acquired in a trade from the Green Bay Packers in April 2023 to help the Jets become playoff contenders. However, Rodgers’ two years with New York were underwhelming: He missed the entire 2023 campaign after tearing his left Achilles in the season opener, and although he returned in 2024 to pass for 3,897 yards and 28 touchdowns, he was largely inconsistent.
Rodgers said he was thankful for his time with the Jets and praised vice chairman Christopher W. Johnson and some staff members, but he summarized the organization as a work in progress.
“There are obviously things that need to get fixed over there,” Rodgers said, per ESPN’s Rich Cimini.
The 10-time Pro Bowler confirmed that he has spoken with the Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants, and Pittsburgh Steelers – and all three clubs’ head coaches – since his release. However, he maintained that his offseason priority has been his personal life and denied speculation that he’s waiting for an offer from the Vikings.
The future Hall of Famer has been linked to the Steelers throughout the offseason after visiting the team’s facility and meeting with head coach Mike Tomlin, general manager Omar Khan, and quarterbacks coach Tom Arth.
Pittsburgh currently has an unsettled quarterback room after both Justin Fields (Jets) and Russell Wilson (Giants) signed with new teams in free agency. Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson are the only passers on Pittsburgh’s roster ahead of the the 2025 draft.
Despite visiting with Steelers personnel and seeing the facility, Rodgers remains a free agent. The veteran signal-caller said he doesn’t “owe anyone a decision at any point,” per Pryor. “This is my life now. … I’ve been upfront with them about that. If you need to move on, if you need to do something, by all means.”
He added, “There’s been no deadlines. I’ve talked to Mike T. many times.”
Rodgers has passed for 62,952 yards, 503 touchdowns, and 116 interceptions across his career and boasts a 6.1% TD percentage through 20 seasons.
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