Jets' Davante Adams: It'd Be 'A Little Bit of a Surprise' If Aaron Rodgers Retired

New York Jets wide receiver Davante Adams told reporters after the Jets' 32-20 victory over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday that it would be "a little bit of a surprise" if 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers decided to retire.

"It's been an interesting year, obviously seeing what he's battled through and hearing the people jump out of nowhere saying that he doesn't have it anymore. Obviously, that's not the case," Adams said.

Before becoming teammates on the Jets, Adams and Rodgers were longtime teammates on the Green Bay Packers. They walked off the field together on Sunday after their final game of the season.

"I think we owed it to each other," Adams said. "Him being such a great friend to me, I felt like that made the most sense, us walking off together today."

The two were teammates on Green Bay for eight years between 2014 and 2021. Adams spent a few years with the Las Vegas Raiders before linking back up with Rodgers on the Jets this season.

The duo clinched the third-most touchdowns between any quarterback and wide receiver pair in NFL history, behind Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison and Steve Young and Jerry Rice, per ESPN

Despite their strong connection, no one knows Rodgers' future with certainty except for the veteran himself, who recorded four touchdowns while completing 23-of-36 passes in the Jets' win over the Dolphins.

Following the victory, Rodgers maintained his stance on not knowing what the future holds for his NFL career.

"I just need some time away to think about my future in the game and my future here, if they want me to be part of the next phase or if they're ready to move on," Rodgers told reporters. "Either way, I'm thankful for my two years here"

Rodgers will chat with Jets' owner Woody Johnson and vice chairman Christopher Johnson in the coming weeks.

"That just comes down to the desire on their side and ultimately my desire, kind of take some time mentally and physically to rest and relax," Rodgers told reporters. "I won't be upset or offended whatever they decide to do, if they want to move on and I still want to play," Rodgers said. "If not, I'll let them know at some point, if that's the case."

Despite the Jets' lackluster season, failing to make the playoffs with a 5-12 record and sitting third in the AFC East, Rodgers said this season-ending feels different than his final one in Green Bay.

"I knew in 2022 my time was done in Green Bay. It felt like it was done, for all of us. It was unsaid maybe on their side. It was understood I think by all of us to go separate ways," Rodgers said. "I needed to figure out whether I still had the desire to play or not, whether I could get that love back. I have tremendous love for the game now. ... This feels much different."

He added, "It's not great to make emotional decisions."