Aaron Rodgers’ words for Aaron Glenn are a reminder: The Jets were right to move on

Ever since the Jets brought in Aaron Glenn as their new head coach, it’s been clear they were planning to turn the page on Aaron Rodgers. The only problem? Rodgers isn’t ready to let go of that chapter just yet.

On Thursday afternoon, Rodgers appeared once again on The Pat McAfee Show, this time lounging on a sunny patio—most likely his place in Malibu, California. With his signature wired earbuds (which he claims help shield his brain from wireless signals), he settled in for another tell-all segment. When the topic turned to the Jets, the video connection suddenly became unstable.

“They’re probably trying to cut this part off,” Rodgers joked, smiling knowingly. But whether it was a technical hiccup or a symbolic moment, it set the tone for what he was about to share: a story about how his time in New York came to an abrupt and unceremonious end.

Rodgers detailed a trip he made earlier in the offseason to New Jersey, footing the bill himself, with the assumption that he was going to sit down with new head coach Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey. He thought they were going to discuss the team’s future—both his and theirs. He expected a conversation about the areas that needed improvement, and perhaps some space to share his input. “Why wouldn’t they want to hear my perspective?” Rodgers asked rhetorically.

But that’s not how things unfolded.

According to Rodgers, what was supposed to be a collaborative discussion turned out to be more of a formality. He said Glenn wasn’t interested in hearing feedback or entertaining the idea of Rodgers returning. Instead, it became clear that the decision had already been made: the Jets were moving in another direction.

“I assumed that since I flew across the country on my own dime, there would be an actual discussion,” Rodgers explained. “I meet with the coach, we chat for a minute, then he suddenly leaves the room. That felt strange. He comes back with the GM, and we all sit down. I think we’re about to dive into a real conversation, but almost immediately, Glenn leans forward and asks, ‘Are you sure you still want to play football?’ And I said, ‘Yeah, I’m still interested.’ And that’s when he hit me with it: ‘We’re going in a different direction at quarterback.’”

Rodgers was stunned.

“I was thinking, ‘You made me come all the way here for this?’” he told McAfee. “You could’ve just told me over the phone if there wasn’t going to be a real conversation.”

The situation escalated when Glenn allegedly asked Rodgers how he wanted the message of his release to be delivered to the team. Rodgers said Glenn told him, “I don’t want to be the guy standing in front of the locker room while players are looking back at you.” Rodgers pushed back, clearly offended. “You think I’d be standing in the back of the room undermining you?” he replied. “You don’t even know me.” Glenn responded, “You don’t know me either.” Rodgers then reminded him, “Exactly—that’s why I made the effort to be here, face to face.”

Rodgers later added, “I think the head coach went a little rogue on that one.”

Glenn clearly wasn’t interested in being a part of the “Aaron Rodgers experiment,” and frankly, it’s hard to fault him for that. If anything, Rodgers’ behavior since then—particularly during his latest media appearance—has only reinforced the Jets’ decision to part ways.

Let’s rewind to the beginning of the Rodgers-Jets relationship.

In 2023, the Jets made a full-court press to bring Rodgers to New York. Executives flew out to Malibu to pitch him on joining the team. They hired his former coordinator Nathaniel Hackett and handed out a bloated contract to Allen Lazard in free agency—all moves clearly aimed at making Rodgers feel at home. Once the trade was completed, Rodgers restructured his deal to allow the Jets to sign more of his preferred players, including Randall Cobb, Billy Turner, Dalvin Cook, and Tim Boyle. But almost none of those additions paid off. Behind closed doors, rival executives joked that general manager Joe Douglas wasn’t really in charge—that Rodgers was the true architect of the roster.

Rodgers came to New York promising to elevate the franchise. Instead, he became a magnet for controversy. On-field contributions were minimal—especially after his injury early in the season—while off-field headlines kept piling up, many driven by his regular appearances on McAfee’s show. He criticized teammates, dabbled in conspiracy theories, and often overshadowed the team with his antics.

The Jets eventually made the difficult choice to move on, effectively firing Rodgers in February. For Rodgers, it was the first time in his career he had been cut loose. And based on his reaction, it stung. He repeatedly emphasized how he’d paid his own way for the meeting and how he felt disrespected by how short it was. But it’s worth asking: if Glenn had not brought him in for a face-to-face and had just made the call instead, would Rodgers be blasting him for that too?

Glenn actually handled things the way a professional leader should. In a business where players are often dismissed via text, email, or even Twitter, Glenn met Rodgers in person, looked him in the eye, and told him the truth. Harsh? Maybe. But necessary.

There was no need to draw it out. Glenn and Mougey had made up their minds. No amount of dialogue was going to change that. So Rodgers found out minutes after walking into the building that his time with the Jets was over. Now both sides can go their separate ways.

Rodgers’ presence over the past two seasons had become a constant source of distraction. While the Jets never prohibited his media appearances, they also did little to rein him in—even as he stirred drama week after week. And yet, Rodgers had the audacity to later accuse the organization of being too focused on non-football matters.

Now, with Glenn in charge for just under three months, the tone around the team has shifted noticeably. He’s tightened operations, quieted internal leaks, and kept the team out of the spotlight. The Jets have dramatically restructured the roster, with just four players over the age of 30 remaining—and one of them, Tyrod Taylor, is a backup quarterback. Rodgers simply didn’t fit into the new timeline or the new culture.

This is Glenn’s team now, not the quarterback’s. Whether it leads to success or not, it’s a fresh start the Jets desperately needed after two chaotic years.

And what of Rodgers now? He remains undecided on whether to return to football at all. In April—just a week before the NFL Draft—he still hasn’t committed to retirement or playing again. His name has recently been linked to the Pittsburgh Steelers, who are clearly exploring quarterback options. Sound familiar?

During his conversation with Glenn, when asked if he was sure about wanting to keep playing, Rodgers reportedly replied, “Yeah, I’m interested.” Interested—not committed.

That kind of uncertainty is exactly what Glenn and the Jets wanted to avoid. So they acted. And now, with Justin Fields stepping in as their new starter, the Jets no longer have to worry about weekly drama or off-the-field distractions. Fields, for his part, has kept things professional—even when given the opportunity to take a jab at his former team, the Steelers, for benching him last year.

The Jets have moved on. It’s time for Rodgers to do the same.