NFL fans are still waiting to see what Aaron Rodgers decides to do with his playing career. The former Jets quarterback appeared on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Thursday afternoon to talk about a range of topics — including his exit from the Jets.
Rodgers is still on the free agent market with the 2025 NFL Draft just a week away. But the veteran quarterback is officially off another market. He gave an update on his relationship status during his appearance on McAfee’s show.
Aaron Rodgers Reveals ‘Serious’ Relationship in Viral Interview
Rodgers answered all kinds of questions during his interview with McAfee. He wasn’t directly asked about his relationship status, but he volunteered that he’s in a serious relationship. And that’s playing a role in his decision about returning to football.
“From the jump, you know, I’m in a different phase of my life. I’m 41 years old, I’m in a serious relationship. I have off-the-field stuff going on that requires my attention. I have personal commitments I’ve made, not knowing what my future would look like after last year, that are important to me. And I’ve got a couple people in my inner, inner circle that are dealing with some really difficult stuff.
“So I have a lot of things that are taking my attention — and have really from January — away from football,” the former Jets quarterback said on Thursday.
"I'm 41 years old and I have some off the field stuff going on that requires my attention..
I have a couple people in my inner circle who are really battling some difficult stuff..
To make a commitment to a team is a big thing"@AaronRodgers12 #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/24oHonR31a
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow)
Rodgers didn’t go into more detail about his personal relationships, which isn’t surprising. But it’s clear he’s taking those commitments seriously.
Whether those commitments lead to retirement is still uncertain. But the way Rodgers talked about joining a new team shows he hasn’t ruled it out. He said signing with a team is a big decision for him. That’s true for any player, but especially someone in Rodgers’ situation.
The ex-Jets quarterback had a solid 2024 season in New York. He threw for nearly 3,900 yards, 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Rodgers ranked 21st in the NFL in PFSN’s QB+ metric, which evaluates quarterback performance throughout a season.
“If Week 18 is to be Aaron Rodgers’ last game as a professional, he’ll be pleased to have not finished in the style he played in Week 17. He produced some fantastic numbers in the clutch and finished with 7.1 nYPA. However, a 0.03 EPA/DB and 37.5% third-down conversion rate hardly paints a pretty picture,” PFSN contributor Ben Rolfe wrote of the future Hall of Famer’s performance.
Rodgers wasn’t able to lead the Jets to the playoffs. New York finished the year 5-12. To make things worse, there was tension within the organization. Head coach Robert Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas were both let go during the 2024 season.
Rodgers has little left to prove in a career that’s headed to Canton. At this point, it’s about whether the old gunslinger still has enough fire to go one more round. For now, we’ll have to keep waiting for that answer.
