Aaron Rodgers is heading into his second season with the Pittsburgh Steelers following a painful end to his tenure with the New York Jets. The Steelers are scheduled to face Rodgers’ former team, the Jets, in their next preseason game next Friday.
Ahead of the highly anticipated matchup, it is worth revisiting what led to Rodgers’ ugly split with New York.
What Really Happened Between Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets?
When Rodgers arrived in New York in 2023, the move was viewed as a potential turning point for a franchise desperate to end its long playoff drought. The Jets treated the veteran quarterback’s arrival like a major event, even organizing a large-scale news conference to officially welcome their new star.
However, only two seasons later, the dream partnership ended in a bitter and unceremonious divorce. Following a disappointing 5-12 season, the Jets decided to move in a different direction and begin rebuilding without the veteran quarterback.
In February 2025, new Jets head coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey sat down with Rodgers in person to inform him that the organization was moving forward with a different plan at quarterback.
Glenn and Mougey later explained their decision in a joint statement, noting that the conversation was necessary to provide everyone involved with enough clarity to prepare for what came next.
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“It was important to have this discussion now to provide clarity and enable each of us the proper time to plan for our respective futures,” they said. “We want to thank him for the leadership, passion, and dedication he brought to the organization and wish him success moving forward.”
Rodgers arrived in New York with the reputation of an elite NFL quarterback and a Super Bowl championship on his résumé. Yet, instead of delivering the turnaround the Jets envisioned, his tenure quickly became a frustrating chapter that ultimately ended with both sides going their separate ways.
How Rodgers’ Jets Stint Turned Into a Nightmare
Rodgers’ Jets tenure could hardly have started worse. Just four plays into New York’s first offensive drive against the Buffalo Bills, the veteran quarterback suffered a torn Achilles, abruptly ending his 2023 season.
Despite battling through a difficult rehabilitation process and attempting to make an unlikely return, Rodgers never took another snap that season. The Jets eventually finished 7-10.
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After fully recovering during the offseason, Rodgers entered the 2024 season with expectations once again running high. However, the quarterback and the Jets struggled to develop any consistent rhythm on the field.
Off-field issues also began adding to the tension. Amid this, Rodgers was fined by the Jets for an “unexcused absence” after missing two mandatory practices because of a planned trip to Egypt.
Once the season began, the frustration continued to grow. Rodgers, the front office, and the coaching staff increasingly found themselves under pressure as losses continued to pile up. The Jets eventually fired Robert Saleh following a 2-3 start, but the coaching change failed to spark a turnaround.
Under interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich, New York went just 3-9 for the remainder of the season and once again failed to reach the playoffs.
Following the hiring of Glenn and Mougey, the Jets ultimately decided to cut ties with Rodgers and completely reset the organization’s direction. At the same time, Rodgers was openly considering whether his NFL career had reached its conclusion.
However, after months of weighing his future, Rodgers ultimately postponed his retirement and eventually joined the Steelers. In 2025, he went 10-6 as Pittsburgh’s starting quarterback. According to PFN’s QB Impact Metric, he posted an impact score of 71.9, ranking 29th in the league.
Rodgers has already confirmed that the 2026 season will be his final NFL season. Now, even before the regular season begins, he will have an opportunity to face the team that moved on from him when the Steelers meet the Jets in the upcoming preseason matchup.
