Jets officially release Aaron Rodgers; veteran QB now a free agent for first time in career

By Nick Shook

As the NFL calendar turned to the new league year, Aaron Rodgers‘ release from the New York Jets became official with the release of the league transaction wire late Wednesday night.

Rodgers, a post-June 1 designation, is now free to sign with any team for the first time in his 20-year career. A few — the New York Giants, Pittsburgh Steelers and Minnesota Vikings — are said to be interested in adding the future Pro Football Hall of Famer.

Buzz regarding Rodgers picked up earlier in the week, when the Steelers were first reported to be pursuing the 41-year-old quarterback’s services for the 2025 season. With teams waiting for Wednesday for Rodgers to become available after the Jets announced in February that he would not return, that’s as far as movement on his future has advanced.

Pittsburgh has an increased need at quarterback following Justin Fields‘ decision to accept a two-year deal with the Jets, leaving the Steelers in a position in which they’d have to choose a veteran in order to fill the top spot on the roster. Given their stated desire to advance beyond where 2024 (and a number of previous seasons) finished — a loss on Wild Card Weekend — Rodgers appears to be a good fit, provided there’s mutual interest.

The Giants present as an intriguing option, too, especially when considering Rodgers would only have to swap locker rooms at MetLife Stadium after spending 2023 and 2024 with the Jets.

Minnesota has surfaced as an option in recent days following the departures of Sam Darnold to Seattle and Daniel Jones to Indianapolis. The Vikings are suddenly in the market for a veteran backup — or in Rodgers’ case, potential starter — to pair with 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy, who only participated in one preseason game before his rookie campaign ended due to a knee injury.

A choice to head to Minnesota would complete the Brett Favre career path that Rodgers has unintentionally followed from Green Bay to New York. It might also present the most challenging scenario for Rodgers, who would logically only return to play in 2025 as a starting quarterback.

These questions and hypothetical scenarios have swirled throughout the week. With Rodgers now free to sign anywhere — and even without a shred of a timeline — we can brace for legitimate movement on the quarterback’s destination before long.