The 2023 season hasn't even started, but there are already murmurs about whether or not he'll be hanging the cleats up at the end of the year.
Yes, it's not even August. Not a single preseason game has been played. Aaron Rodgers has yet to don a Jets jersey in a real, meaningful game. Yet, the news cycle is already proposing the question of whether or not Rodgers will retire at the end of the year.
Rodgers' new head coach Robert Saleh said on Friday he would be, "shocked," if Rodgers wasn't playing football in 2024.
Here's the full quote, H/T ESPN for transcription of the scrum:
"I don't want to back him into a corner and make him commit to something like that," Saleh said after practice. "I just want him to have fun and know that when he walks in this building to let loose and have a little bit of fun, B.S. with the guys, come in the office, come talk to us and just enjoy playing football. Odds are, if you enjoy playing football, you're going to want to keep doing it. I wouldn't put pressure on him to commit to something like that anyway, but I'd be shocked if he doesn't play multiple years. He looks like a little kid out there."
While Saleh is projecting a bit, essentially implying that being in the New York Jets organization will give him enough enjoyment in the game to want to keep playing, there's some credibility here. This isn't Joe Nobody saying they think Rodgers will play, it's someone who has worked closely with Rodgers a lot over the last few weeks.
Fate on Aaron Rodgers retirement this early seems hard to believe
It's an interesting quote, no doubt, but I'm having a tough time putting too much stock in it. Again, it's August. And moreover, we're talking about Aaron Rodgers.
Yes, odds are, if you enjoy playing football, you'll want to keep playing. But Rodgers' decision-making, as he proved this offseason, just wasn't in-line with how the average person makes decisions. The man locked himself in a dark room for several days. He is not normal, and he'll be the first to tell you that.
Not to mention, the expectations in New York are sky-high. Players have already dropped the "Super Bowl" word in training camp this year. For Rodgers, every year he doesn't hoist another Lombardi Trophy brings up thoughts of whether or not there's the drive to restart a whole season and get back on the grind once more.
It's easy to say in August what might happen in 2024. Let's give this one some time and see how the circumstances play out.
