Aaron Rodgers Says Jets Can Win Super Bowl After Trade But 'Not Here to Be a Savior'

Star quarterback Aaron Rodgers is set to begin a new chapter in his legendary career after being traded from the Green Bay Packers to the New York Jets this week.

While the 39-year-old believes his new team is worthy of lofty expectations of competing for a championship this season, he also isn't putting too much pressure on himself to turn the franchise around.

"I'm an old guy. So I want to be part of a team that can win it all," Rodgers told reporters during his introductory news conference Wednesday. He added, "I'm not here to be a savior of any kind."

The Jets paid a premium to bring in the four-time MVP, swapping the No. 13 pick for the No. 15 pick in Thursday's NFL draft and also giving up a 2023 second-round pick and a 2024 conditional second-round pick. The 2024 selection will become a first-rounder if Rodgers plays at least 65 percent of New York's offensive snaps in 2023.

The completion of the trade ended a standoff between the Jets and Packers that lasted more than a month. Rodgers was never worried about the trade falling through, saying, "I believed it was going to happen the entire time."

After spending the last 18 years with Green Bay, Rodgers said "This is a surreal day for me" and reiterated confidence in the Jets: "I'm here because I believe in this team." However, he didn't commit to playing more than one year with New York after he openly contemplated retirement earlier this offseason.

New York was an attractive destination for Rodgers because of the team's stalwart defense and dynamic group of offensive skill players. Jets general manager Joe Douglas made multiple offseason moves that could ease Rodgers' transition to his new team, such as signing former Packers receiver Allen Lazard and hiring Nathaniel Hackett as offensive coordinator.

"I just really believe this is the place I'm supposed to be," Rodgers said, adding that Hackett was "a big reason I'm here."

The signal-caller put together back-to-back MVP seasons in 2020 and 2021 with Hackett as Green Bay's offensive coordinator, likely influencing the Jets to hire him despite his disastrous tenure as Denver Broncos head coach last year.

There was one proposal Rodgers didn't accept, as he turned down New York legend Joe Namath's offer to wear No. 12. He will instead go back to what he wore in college: No. 8.

"To me, 12 is Broadway Joe, and I didn't even want to go down that path. I'm excited about going back to my college number," he said.

It's clear Rodgers' focus is on bringing the Jets a Super Bowl title, something they haven't won since Namath was under center in 1967.

When he walked past the lone Lombardi Trophy in the Jets' facility Wednesday, Rodgers said he felt "it looked a little lonely."

Time will tell if Rodgers is able to deliver on his aspirations of bringing a championship to New York.