Before going into his “obscurity retirement”, Aaron Rodgers, in his own words, was “90% retired” and ready to move out of Green Bay.
When he came out of the dark, he was still ready to leave Wisconsin. But Rodgers decided to become a New York Jet, and she loves his decision with the team’s opening training camp.
He admitted that he wanted to retire as a Packer and be one of “the Tim Duncans, the [Derek] Jeters, the Kobes [Bryant] of the world”, but signaled that it was time for a change.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Aaron Rodgers of the New York Jets performs drills during training camp at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center on July 20, 2023 in Florham Park, NJ (Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
“This has definitely rejuvenated me. I’m excited to be in a new place, excited to meet the new guys and be close to everything,” Rodgers told ESPN New York radio’s Rick DiPietro and Dave Rothernberg on Friday morning.
Rodgers has enjoyed everything the Big Apple has to offer. Hours and days after being officially introduced as a Jet, he was taking part in the New York Knicks and Rangers playoff games at Madison Square Garden. In May, he attended a Taylor Swift Eras Tour show at his new home, MetLife Stadium.
“This was a great opportunity for me. It’s fun to have everything so new, because there are new people to meet, there are new places to go,” Rodgers said. “I really enjoyed the city, being able to go to restaurants and concerts and MSG. You have so many sporting events. That’s been a lot of fun for me. As much as I love Green Bay and have so much affection for that place, it’s a little slower.”
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers poses with a jersey after a news conference at the team’s training facility in Florham Park, New Jersey on April 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Rodgers is entering his 19th season and will turn 40 in December, when he expects the Jets to be close to clinching their first playoff berth since the 2010 season. So, retirement isn’t exactly far off.
But the four-time MVP feels he owes it to the organization to play more than one season.
LONG-TERM COLTS WRITER DETAILS ‘SOUL SUCTION’ EXPERIENCE AT ATHLETIC: ‘THEY DON’T GIVE A F—ABOUT ME’
“I’m not a big cliché. Most people would say, ‘I’m taking this one day at a time or one year at a time,’ but the Jets gave a lot for me. So to play just one year, I think, would be a disservice.
“Now if that year turns out to be a magic year, who knows? But it’s more than that. It’s how my body feels… But the way I feel now, I feel like I could play several years.”
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers speaks to reporters after the team’s OTAs at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center on June 9, 2023 in Florham Park, NJ (Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
New York went 7-10 last season. Despite missing the playoffs, the Jets have young talent on the rise. They have the reigning offensive and defensive rookies of the year in Garrett. Wilson and Willow Gardner, the latter of whom was a first-team All-Pro. Breece Hall, who was on pace to earn top offensive rookie honors before tearing an ACL midseason, appears to be healthy for 2023.
