Aaron Rodgers Rumors: NFL Insider Would Be 'Shocked' If QB Returns to Jets in 2025

The New York Jets' overhaul amid a bitterly disappointing season continued Tuesday after the team fired general manager Joe Douglas.

Now attention turns toward the future of quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the centerpiece behind the team's failed rebuild effort. Per ESPN's Rich Cimini, a source said he'd be "shocked" if team owner Woody Johnson brought the four-time NFL MVP back in 2025.

"Douglas had become disenchanted in recent weeks, sources said, hoping a miracle turnaround might change things. The opposite has happened; the Jets have dropped seven of their past eight games in what was supposed to be a win-now season under Rodgers, whose future is cloudy. One source said he'd be 'shocked' if Johnson brings Rodgers back in 2025."

Rodgers doesn't have guaranteed money left on his contract, but he does carry a $49 million dead cap charge with a release, per Over the Cap. The 40-year-old also has a no-trade clause.

The 3-8 Jets sit last in the AFC East and are about to finish out their 14th straight season outside the playoffs. The table appeared set to at least break the playoff-less streak last year when Rodgers came aboard from the Green Bay Packers, but a torn Achilles suffered in Week 1 in essence dashed that dream. New York ended up 7-10 for the second straight year.

Still, hope remained high in 2024 thanks to Rodgers' return, a talented defense and exceptional offensive talent. But nothing has gone right this season, to the point where head coach Robert Saleh was fired after a 2-3 start. It hasn't gotten any better since then under interim coach Jeff Ulbrich, who is 1-5.

Now it appears the Jets are at the point of no return. The head coach is gone, and the GM is gone. A complete rebuild is underway, and it won't be realized until Rodgers is gone at this point. He's a future first-ballot Hall of Famer and unequivocally one of the top 10 NFL quarterbacks of all time, but it just didn't work out.

The future still remains murky without clear leadership in place, but now it appears that the Jets could eat the massive dead cap charge to move on at this point, based on the Cimini report.