Insider addresses if Jets gave Aaron Rodgers ultimatums before offseason decision

Shortly after reports confirmed that recently hired New York Jets general manager Darren Mougey and head coach Aaron Glenn plan to move on from quarterback Aaron Rodgers this offseason, The Athletic's Dianna Russini shared that the Jets "set some boundaries" for a potential Rodgers return that involved him having to "attend all training camp practices" and stopping his weekly in-season appearances on "The Pat McAfee Show."

For a piece published Monday, NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated addressed the discussion between Mougey, Glenn and Rodgers that ended with the Jets choosing to part ways with the 41-year-old.

"The reality was that the Jets’ desire to move on was about them and not Rodgers, and timelines that don’t match up," Breer explained. "New York, under its leaders, was looking at a deliberate reimagination of its football operation, which was going to be tough to marry up with a quarterback playing for this year alone. Part of that is, yes, the larger-than-life presence Rodgers brings with him, so his effect on and in the media was a factor, if a smaller one. So while there was no ultimatum on giving up appearances on different platforms, like 'The Pat McAfee Show,' there was discussion on that stuff."

Rodgers has a reputation for going viral via comments he makes regarding controversial topics during segments on "The Pat McAfee Show," and the future Hall of Famer is also known to challenge authority. Tolerating headaches Rodgers could cause was worth it for the Green Bay Packers when he was at a Most-Valuable-Player level, but there's no guarantee he'll ever reclaim that form coming off the torn Achilles that cost him just about all of the 2023 campaign. 

Per Pro Football Reference, Rodgers ended the 2024 regular season ranked 31st among qualified players with a 48.0 adjusted QBR and tied for 21st with a 90.5 passer rating. He recorded 28 touchdown passes and 11 interceptions over 17 games. 

"Rodgers did tell Mougey and Glenn that it was his tentative intention to play in 2025," Breer added. "These things can change, of course, but Rodgers gave the Jets the impression that he had unfinished business to take care of."

The perception exists that the Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns and Indianapolis Colts are among the teams not planning to pursue Rodgers when he becomes available. Of course, it could only take one club needing to turn to a so-called "plan B" for Rodgers to find an NFL home before training camp practices open this coming summer.