Aaron Rodgers made his intentions clear on his first day with the Jets on Wednesday.
Let’s put it this way: The days of meaningful games in December being good enough are over.
“I’m an old guy so I want to be part of a team that can win it all,” Rodgers said at his introductory press conference in Florham Park. “I believe this is a place we can get that done.”
The Jets last went to a Super Bowl following the 1968 season when Joe Namath guaranteed the win over the Colts in the Orange Bowl and then delivered.
Rodgers hit all the right notes on his first day with the Jets, including showing deference to Namath.
“I grew up watching old VHS tapes of the Super Bowls,” Rodgers said, flanked by coach Robert Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas. “So, obviously I know about the guarantee and Broadway Joe. It’s been a while since then. I noticed walking in this morning that that Super Bowl III trophy is looking a little lonely.”
There has been a fear around the Jets about talking about the Super Bowl since Rex Ryan left.
The goals have always been about growth and getting better every day and other clichés.
Want to catch a game? The Jets schedule with links to buy tickets can be found here.
Rodgers showed he has no interest in playing that game. He is here to win the second Super Bowl of his career.
“I’m not showing up here to be part of a team that I think is OK,” Rodgers said. “Every year there’s a handful of teams that can win it. Most people don’t say that out loud. They say in training camp the goal is the same for all 32 teams but in actuality there’s anywhere from 8-12 teams that can actually do it and I believe we’re one of those teams.”
Jets owner Woody Johnson introduced his new quarterback on Wednesday.
After months of speculation and weeks of the Jets and Packers haggling over the terms of the trade, it was real.
Rodgers wore a black polo shirt with a Jets logo on it and later posed with his No. 8 jersey.
This was as monumental of a day as the Jets have had since they beat the Patriots in the 2010 playoffs.
“This is a happy day for my brother and I,” Johnson said, “for the organization here and especially for the Jets fans all over.”
Rodgers arrives with a chance to end the Jets’ 12-year playoff drought, which is now the longest in major North American sports.
Rodgers leaned into that chance on Wednesday, embracing the challenge of turning around a franchise that has been wandering in the wilderness for most of the last decade.
Aaron Rodgers traded to the Jets
On Monday, after months of speculation and rumors, the Jets and Packers came to an agreement on a trade that brings four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers to New York.
The trade immediately upgrades the Jets from rising team to playoff contender with the hopes that Rodgers will help break one of the longest active postseason droughts in sports.
The trade
The Jets receive: Aaron Rodgers, No. 15 pick (2023) and No. 170 pick (2023).
The Packers receive: No. 13 pick (2023), No. 42 pick (2023), No. 207 pick (2023) and a conditional second-round 2024 draft pick that conveys to a first-rounder if Rodgers plays 65% of the Jets’ plays in 2023.
What comes next
The trade still needs to be finalized — the terms of Rodgers’ contract need to be worked out — and sent to the NFL.
Both teams will begin feeling this deal as early as Thursday at the 2023 NFL Draft.
For the Packers, it’s now about getting fourth-year QB Jordan Love ready to take over. With Gang Green, it’s about getting a whole host of new faces on the same page offensively.
“The opportunity to be part of a city that’s hungry, a team, an incredible fan base that’s hungry to win again,” Rodgers said when listing his reasons for coming to the Jets.
“Twelve years without the playoffs, no Super Bowl wins since Super Bowl III, it’s been a long time. The opportunity to be part of something special here, it’s different. It’s similar to Green Bay in that way. When you win in a city like Green Bay or I assume for a team like the New York Jets, you go down in history. There’s something special about adding that to your legacy.”
Rodgers said he will be a participant in the team’s voluntary spring workouts, showing he is committed to getting to know his new teammates.
The four-time MVP would not commit to playing beyond 2023 but made it sound like there is definitely a possibility he’ll be back.
The Jets surrendered a second-round pick this year and what should be a first-round pick in 2024 to pry Rodgers away from the Packers.
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Rodgers knows the Jets are hoping this is not a one-year fling.
“They definitely gave up some picks for me to be here,” Rodgers said. “This isn’t like a one and done in my mind. This is a commitment. But it just starts with this season. That’s why I want to be present and not talk about future things.”
Rodgers already felt at home on Wednesday. Saleh said Rodgers was walking around a meeting room barefoot. The plan is for Rodgers to be in the team’s meetings on Thursday.
The Jets can only hope this is the beginning of what Rodgers has envisioned.
“Like I said last year after we played them, they’re not the Same Old Jets,” Rodgers said. “This is a team that has a legitimate opportunity to do something special this year.”
