Aaron Rodgers says he's happy to be a member of the New York Jets, but for right now, that doesn't extend past the 2023 season.
The 39-year-old four-time NFL Most Valuable Player declined to commit to playing in 2024 in his introductory press conference on Wednesday.
"Right now, I’m just going to focus on this season,” Rodgers said when asked about playing beyond the upcoming season. “I’m excited to be here.”
The trade of Rodgers to the Jets was finalized on Wednesday with the 39-year-old Chico, CA native, the 15th overall pick and the 170th selection in this weekend's NFL Draft heading from the Green Bay Packers in exchange for the 13th overall selection, the No. 42 pick, the 207th selection and a conditional second-round pick in 2024. The contingency on the 2024 selection is based on whether or not Rodgers is under centre for 65 per cent of the Jets' snaps this season.
"Anytime you add a player of Aaron's calibre, it's going to raise the level of everyone," Jets general manager Joe Douglas said. "There are going to be standards that need to be met. I feel like from the beginning, when I started hitting the internet and the stratosphere of this possibly happening, I think everybody's antennas went up. I think everybody's going to answer the bell when it comes to meeting that standard. It's going to be great having these first-, second- and third-year players around Aaron and around the other veteran players we have on our roster."
The Jets also announced Rodgers will wear the No. 8 and not the familiar No. 12 he wore in all 18 seasons with the Packers. The Jets' No. 12 was famously worn by Joe Namath with his number retired in 1985.
