The New York Jets are out of playoff contention. When Aaron Rodgers came to the franchise in 2023, the team hoped for a miracle. But alas, he got injured. However, this year was also disappointing as he couldn’t take them to the postseason after a 4-10 win-loss record. Amid these, there is no clarity about the legend’s future with the team.

On December 16, NY Radio host Joe Benigno sat down with Evan Roberts and Tiki Barber on Evan and Tiki WFAN show. Barber praised Rodgers’s health and said, “I’m not saying anything about next year. Evan took it as I want Aaron Rogers as a jet quarterback next year. But for the first time, he looked healthy. Yeah, he looked like he wasn’t hobbling.” That’s interesting. But Benigno didn’t hesitate to put forward his stance and said, “I want him back next year. I can tell you that right now, look, I want to run back this offense. We got players. He’ll leave, go somewhere next year and be great and we’ll all be sucking wind.” That’s right.

During the week 15 game against the Jaguars, the team won 32-25. It was the first time in 2024; that they crossed the 30-point barrier. Aaron Rodgers had 16 of 30 passes (53% completion rate) in 289 passing yards with 3 touchdowns. Additionally, the firing of Robert Saleh after week 5 changed the coaching dynamics. But the NY host was hopeful.

Benigno doubled down on his love for A-Rod and trolled his critics while adding, “I and all these people all the writers who have been trying to get him out of town and trying to bench him and all of this and I won’t say the names. These guys have been covering the Jets far too long. Okay, will be the same guys that’ll rip the Jets next year when he’s playing like an MVP for somebody and he’s not on the team anymore. I want him back.” That’s a dilemma for sure.

The Jets owner Woody Johnson must be in double mind about the QB option. While a new QB doesn’t bring a guarantee of success, the legend has been with the players for 2 seasons now. There’s money involved too.

Will the Jets fire Aaron Rodgers?

The writers and analysts to whom Benigno was referring were his critics, who slammed the quarterback for his comments on the owner and media. Aaron Rodgers trolled the ex-NFL players turned analysts on the December 10 episode of the Pat McAfee Show. But, Ryan Clark got enraged and called him “a fraud“, on the December 13 episode of ESPN’s First Take show. That’s not all.

Around 10 days back, Evan Roberts had claimed that “I think he (Aaron Rodgers) can’t wait to get the hell out of here.” It came in the backdrop of the QB’s comments that fans were not supportive of the owner’s actions at the franchise. However, Johnson would also be looking at the dead cap.

According to Spotrac, he has a $49M dead cap against a $23.5M cap hit in 2025. Chances are that the Jets would release him after June 1, 2025, with cap hits of $14 million in 2025 and $35 million in 2026. Fans are waiting for how things will pan out for Rodgers and the franchise.