What the odds say: Where will Rodgers play next season?
Lost in the chaos that was Super Bowl week was the news that the Jets reportedly informed Aaron Rodgers he won't be returning as their quarterback next season.
Rodgers' two-year tenure in New York was full of disappointment and controversy. A torn Achilles tendon in his debut sidelined him for all of 2023, and then he only won five games in 2024, a season in which head coach Robert Saleh lasted just five contests.
Despite a sluggish start to the year, the Jets gave up draft capital to acquire Rodgers' favorite target, Davante Adams, which now appears to have been very shortsighted and only done to please Rodgers.
To put things bluntly: The Rodgers era was a disaster.
However, the 41-year-old may still have some gas in the tank. He played his best games this season as the schedule came to a close, leaving the door open for another year in the NFL.
But what team needs - or wants - Rodgers' services?
The list is short, but there are a few suitors.
The Steelers are the betting favorites to be Rodgers' next team at theScore Bet/ESPN BET. Both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields are free agents, and there's a chance neither re-signs in Pittsburgh. That would pave the way for Rodgers to step into a playoff-caliber roster for one last hurrah.
Rodgers' next team odds
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Steelers | +165 |
| Raiders | +350 |
| 49ers | +425 |
| Vikings | +500 |
| Titans | +800 |
| Colts | +1200 |
| Giants | +1200 |
| Browns | +1200 |
| Rams | +1500 |
| Seahawks | +2200 |
| Saints | +3000 |
Teams above +3000 are not listed.
The Raiders are the next favorites, but it seems unlikely that Rodgers would want to spend one of his last seasons with a rebuilding team.
The 49ers are expected to sign Brock Purdy to an extension, so you can cross them off the list. The Vikings seem ready to hand the keys over to J.J. McCarthy, with Sam Darnold hitting the open market.
One potential long shot would be the Rams, who may move on from Matthew Stafford. Los Angeles has already made it known it plans to trade Cooper Kupp, and maybe Stafford will follow him out the door if his contract can't be reworked. Flipping one aging quarterback for another would only make sense if Rodgers is the much cheaper option.
Retirement is always in play, as well. Rodgers will turn 42 next season and has nothing left to prove. Does he really want to go to a new environment, learn a new playbook, and grind out another year for a team unlikely to have a shot at winning a Super Bowl? With free agency looming and the NFL draft approaching, we'll likely find out very soon.