By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2024-12-18 21:26:33 | Updated at 2024-12-19 00:32:03
3 hours ago
Aaron Rodgers will take some time off after this season before deciding on his future in the NFL.
While fans have called for the 41-year-old to hang up his cleats after the New York Jets' catastrophic season concludes, the veteran quarterback claims he will reevaluate at the end of the campaign.
During a media scrum on Wednesday, Rodgers said 'I'm gonna take some time after the year. Unless I get released right away.'
'But I will still take some time [to decide] whether or not I'm gonna play. I will take some time to get away from it either way.'
Rodgers has completed 305 of 488 attempts this season for 3,255 yards and 23 touchdowns. Meanwhile, he has been sacked 32 times and threw eight interceptions.
Last month, Rodgers addressed the retirement speculations when asked if he plans to return to the Jets next season.
Aaron Rodgers on if this stretch impacts his decision to play in 2025:
"I'm going to take some time after the year, unless I get released right away" pic.twitter.com/xp7Oyvsypz
Aaron Rodgers claimed he will take some time off after this season to decide on his future
'I think so, yeah,' Rodgers said in mid-November when asked about his return plans. The response indicates that his feelings had not changed after saying he hopes to play 'two or three or four more years,' last offseason.
'Not really, not for the negative,' he added. 'Not really, no.'
'I'm not playing as well as I would've liked to play, for sure,' he said. 'The beauty in this game is it's a team game.
'The frustrating part is that if you're a great competitor, you hold yourself to a standard that's not unrealistic, and I haven't reached that standard this year,' Rodgers added.
However, his tone about leaving the sport appeared to have changed since.
The former Packers franchise player is under contract for 2025. However, the Jets would have to exercise a $35million option bonus to bring him back.
Furthermore, Rodgers has a $2.5million base salary, making his cap charge a manageable $23.5m.
Rodgers joined the Jets last year but missed the entire season after suffering an Achilles tear in his first quarter in green and white.
Having played in 14 of their outings this season, the team still struggled as they are 4-10, sitting third in the AFC East with three games remaining.
