Aaron Rodgers seems to challenge Jets teammates after loss to Rams

All New York Jets fans know about the club’s short-term future is that change is coming to the organization as soon as next month. 

Following the Jets’ 19-9 home loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday that dropped Gang Green to 4-11 for the season, New York quarterback Aaron Rodgers seemed to deliver a message to teammates regarding what’s expected of everybody involved over the final two weeks of a campaign that hasn’t gone as hoped.

“It’s about perspective, and your perspective forms your truth, and your truth makes your reality. The reality of the situation is what it is,” Rodgers said, as Antwan Staley of the New York Daily News shared. “Your perspective is something you can change every single day. What you’re focusing on every single day is the most important thing now. It’s not to change the reality of the situation, 4-11 and out of the playoffs going into an unknown offseason, but we have to figure out what it means to be a professional. I think that’s an important part of building culture.”

Rodgers and wide receiver Garrett Wilson are among the noteworthy Jets players who have recently discussed the franchise’s “curse” and “losing problem, ” including the club’s extending the longest active playoff drought in the four major North American sports leagues to 14 consecutive seasons. 

Rodgers doesn’t yet know if he’ll be asked to return for another year by Jets owner Woody Johnson and/or by a yet-to-be-hired regime. Meanwhile, Wilson is eligible to negotiate a contract extension this coming offseason for the first time in his career. Still, he reportedly could submit a trade request before the opening night of the 2025 NFL Draft arrives. 

At this point, the 2024 Jets will be playing for pride and not much else when they face the 12-3 Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium this coming Sunday. As of Monday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook listed New York as a 9.5-point underdog for that road matchup. 

“The last two weeks, you can really see who’s on board moving forward and who’s ready to get out. It’s just part of the game,” Rodgers continued. “I’ve been on a couple of teams and we were out of it and it is interesting to watch the practice habits, the operational habits. It will be interesting conversations in the next couple of weeks, but just focus on the relationships we have with each other and try to finish this thing out like a pro.”

In the end, a general manager and head coach who had nothing to do with bringing Rodgers to the Jets will determine whether he remains on the roster through the spring unless the 41-year-old retires. Perhaps Rodgers is trying to show he’s committed to fixing the Jets’ supposed culture problems by challenging teammates not to make so-called “business decisions” between the Monday before Christmas and the final snap of Week 18.