The New York Jets released Aaron Rodgers before NFL free agency began in mid-March. New Jets head coach Aaron Glenn decided to move on from the veteran quarterback as he looks to make a fresh impression on the roster ahead of his first season.
Rodgers has been linked to the Pittsburgh Steelers in recent weeks. However, no deal has been reached at this point.
The future Hall of Fame quarterback appeared on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Thursday, April 15, to discuss his future — but not everyone was pleased with what he had to say.
NFL Insider Calls Out Ex-Jets QB Aaron Rodgers After Viral Interview
Rodgers talked about both his NFL future and the conversation that led to his Jets exit. He didn’t seem happy about how things went down with the new regime in New York, and he let those feelings be known.
"I figured when I flew across country to meet with the Jets there was gonna be a conversation..
We sat down in the office & 20 seconds in the coach said we're going in a different direction..
That's totally fine but they could have just told me that on the phone" ~… pic.twitter.com/By7QvLK7tM
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow)
“The confusing thing to me, and the strange thing, is when I went out there, I meet with the coach. We start talking, he runs out of the room. I’m like, ‘That’s kind of strange.’ Then he comes back with the GM. So we sit down in the office, and I think we’re going to have this long conversation.
“I’ve flown across the country. Twenty seconds in…he leans into the edge of his sheet and goes, ‘You sure you still want to play football?’ I was like, ‘Yeah, I’m interested,’ and he said, ‘We’re going a different direction at quarterback,'” Rodgers said.
“I was kind of shocked. Not shocked because I didn’t think that was a possibility. Of course, if they want to move on, that’s totally fine. Shocked because I just flew across the country and you could have told me this on the phone,” the former Jets quarterback said.
The interview got plenty of attention online, with many fans and media members responded to the segment. NFL insider Josina Anderson added her take, calling out the future Hall of Famer for how he framed his exit from New York.
With all due respect, Aaron Rodgers perhaps should check on how Joe Douglas feels after signing many of his friends, and Robert Saleh who was the subject of several hit pieces–both of whom lost their jobs–before carrying on about this. Lost-their-jobs. Yes, for multiple… https://t.co/3UCSK5Qo3M
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson)
“With all due respect, Aaron Rodgers perhaps should check on how Joe Douglas feels after signing many of his friends, and Robert Saleh who was the subject of several hit pieces–both of whom lost their jobs–before carrying on about this. Lost-their-jobs. Yes, for multiple reasons (true), but let’s zoom out and have macro & self-awareness in this too…
“The question of the day really pertains to leak(s). A lot of y’all have been fooled thinking hate lingered, where hate didn’t…I’ll leave it at that. The people who know what I’m talking about at FP, know what I’m talking about…current and past,” Anderson wrote on X in response.
Rodgers didn’t announce a decision about his playing future during the appearance. What comes next for the quarterback is still unclear. But what is clear, though, is that things obviously didn’t end smoothly between Rodgers and the Jets.
