Jets GM Darren Mougey addresses Aaron Rodgers split

New York Jets GM Darren Mougey denied there was any ultimatum for Aaron Rodgers for a potential return to the team in 2025.

In the end, the team and Rodgers mutually agreed to split and let the quarterback hit free agency. The Athletic’s Dianna Russini previously reported The Pat McAfee Show, among other things, would have to go for the Jets to be on the same page with Rodgers next season.

While other reporters have since tampered down on that particular bit, Mougey pretty much denied that aspect about controlling Rodgers’ choices.

“I just want to address the Aaron Rodgers stuff, get ahead of that,” Mougey said. “I’m not going to discuss any private discussions that I had with Aaron throughout this process, and really with any private discussion I had with any player for that matter. I’m not here to confirm or deny any rumors that happened during that process. 

“I will say this, there was never an ultimatum or rules of engagement for Aaron to potentially join the Jets again. That never happened. (Head coach Aaron Glenn) and I had a lot of dialogue, a lot of conversations, a lot of good thoughts, and just felt at the end of the day, it was the best thing for the Jets moving forward, just going a different direction at the quarterback position. So, lot of respect for Aaron Rodgers as a player and person, first ballot Hall of Famer. (I) wish him nothing but the best. But that was a decision we made, and look forward to kind of moving past that and into this next process here with free agency in the draft.”

As a way to eliminate distractions or dysfunction, Rodgers could not have the spotlight on McAfee’s program, per Russini’s reporting. 

“I was told that when they had conversations with Aaron Rodgers about what the future would look like, if you’re going to be part of this team you’re going to attend all of the training camp,” Russini said on her Scoop City podcast. “You’re not going to do Pat McAfee interviews anymore. So they were really trying to change the way …

“They had a conversation with him of, ‘If you were to stay here, here is how we would want it to be.’ So this to me is Aaron Glenn getting control back. 

The Green Bay Packers traded Rodgers to the Jets in 2023, but Rodgers missed nearly all of the 2023 season due to a torn Achilles. He returned in 2024 and led the Jets to just a 5-12 record despite throwing for 3,897 yards and 28 touchdowns.

Of course, Rodgers has put together a Hall of Fame career, finishing up his 20th NFL season following the 2024 campaign. Over that time, the veteran quarterback has thrown for over 62,000 yards with 503 touchdowns, winning four MVP awards and a Super Bowl title with the Green Bay Packers.