Jets would be “shocked” if Aaron Rodgers doesn’t play for several years

Aaron Rodgers may be staying with the New York Jets a little longer than initially thought.

The 39-year-old quarterback hasn’t committed to playing football after this season, but he has strongly indicated on multiple occasions that his first year with the Jets won’t be his last.

Rodgers reiterated that sentiment Friday during an appearance on the “Dipietro & Rothenberg” show on ESPN Radio in New York.

Rodgers said, “The Jets left a lot for me, so playing just one year would be a loss.” “If that one year turns out to be a magic year, who knows? It’s more than that, that’s how my body feels.”

In other words, the race to the Super Bowl could change everything.

But other than that, the Jets expect Rodgers to stay below center next season — and probably beyond.

Coach Robert Saleh said, “I would be surprised if he doesn’t play for many years.” “I mean, he looks like a little kid over there.”

Rodgers said in a radio interview that the modified diet and exercise made his body feel “really great” at this time of year.

He said, “Talk to me in three or four months, we’ll see how it goes.” “But the way I feel now, I think I can play for a few more years.”

Rodgers was acquired by New York from Green Bay in April, bringing the four-time NFL MVP to a franchise that had failed to make the playoffs in 12 years – the league’s longest active drought. During his opening press conference, he talked about how “lonely” the Jets’ 1969 Super Bowl trophy felt and that the goal was to add another trophy to a winner-hungry team.

After his first training camp practice with the Jets on Thursday, Rodgers was thrilled with the team’s young talent and how it has energized him going into his 19th NFL season.

He added, “You have a nice window.” “It’s not just a one-year thing where you can be competitive, which is a good thing.”

The Jets made every effort to get Rodgers on board, sending the Packers first, second and sixth-round picks in this year’s draft, as well as a conditional second-rounder next year who could become the first-rounder if the quarterback plays at least 65% of his snaps — which New York hopes will be the case. Green Bay skipped the first and fifth rounds this year with Rodgers.

Rodgers, who will turn 40 in December, considered retiring during the off-season before entering a dark winter retreat to clear his mind and decide what he wanted for his future. He decided he wanted to continue playing football – and intended to do so with the Jets.

This accelerated the trade, which required several weeks of negotiations between the parties before it could be completed.

Saleh said Rodgers hasn’t told the team what his plans are after this season, but the Jets are not pressuring him to do so.

“I don’t want to corner him and force him to do something like this,” Saleh said. “I just want him to have fun and know that when he comes to this building to relax and have some fun, BS with the boys, come to the office, talk to us and enjoy playing football.

“Chances are that if you like football, you will want to continue.”

On Thursday, Rodgers talked about being more patient with the process at this point in his career, not getting excited if things don’t work out early in training camp, and focusing on getting better as the summer progresses to build up to the season.

He also noted the differences between playing in New York and Green Bay, including the increased media attention and publicity surrounding his “hard knocks” with the Jets this year.

“Yeah, that’s fantastic,” Rodgers said. “I mean, that’s what you want. You want to be a part of a place that has high expectations. And there’s a lot of positivity here, which I think is a good thing.”

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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