Aaron Rodgers in Finally a New York Jet

During the offseason, Aaron Rodgers’ future as the quarterback of the Green Bay Packers and in the NFL overall was widely debated. After going on a highly publicized darkness retreat, Rodgers publicly expressed a change of heart and claimed that the Packers were ready to move on.

The New York Jets were the most apparent trade partner, given their highly-rated defense from last season and promising young offensive players. With a significant quarterback problem, they saw Aaron Rodgers as the best solution. The Jets’ management flew out to California to meet with Rodgers. At which point it was evident that the Packers were moving on, and unless Rodgers stopped it, he would be traded to the Jets.

Ironically, Rodgers had already been in a similar position fifteen years earlier when Brett Favre’s indecision about retirement left Rodgers stuck in the middle. However, Rodgers got the starting job at Green Bay when the team traded Favre to the Jets.

Aaron Rodgers Trade Wasn’t Easy

The trade between the Jets and the Packers did not happen right away. Both sides thinking they had leverage and respective desperation to make the deal happen. Once the Packers decided to move on from Rodgers, it would have been practically impossible for them to go back on their decision, given their desire to give Jordan Love a chance.

The Jets had to get a deal done because without Aaron Rodgers, the team had no feasible Plan B. The Jets made transparent moves to woo Rodgers, such as hiring Nathaniel Hackett as their offensive coordinator and signing receiver Allen Lazard. Despite being a stare-down between the two teams, a deal seemed inevitable, and it eventually came down to finding middle ground. Now that the trade has been made, both teams can move on to their new era.