The New York Jets’ archenemy believes Aaron Rodgers has a future in the NFL despite his disastrous 2024 season.
Longtime New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick seemed unwilling to rule out Rodgers, as Gang Green was officially doomed to another losing season.
In the last episode of ‘Come on!’ podcastBelichick revealed his belief that Rodgers, 41, could be in line for a bounce-back season in 2025 after rupturing his Achilles tendon in 2023.
“(Rodgers) could easily bounce back from that and be ready to play and have a good year next year,” Belichick said.
“You look at all the quarterbacks in the league that are on their second teams and doing pretty well, Russell Wilson and Geno Smith and (Sam) Darnold, Baker Mayfield, you go to the line, (Matthew) Stafford, everything case, Jared Goff.
“These guys who change teams, they come into a different system, things are a little different for them, maybe they learn some things from their previous experiences. It changes. When a guy has a long, good career, sometimes a season is just an obstacle in the way. It is not necessarily the end of the road.”
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been going through a rough patch in his career.
But former Patriots head coach Bill Belichick believes there’s still something left in the Jets’ QB.
It’s been an up-and-down season for Rodgers. Flashes of his former greatness have appeared at times, but for the most part, things simply haven’t clicked on offense as the Jets sit with a 3-9 record.
The former Super Bowl champion has completed just 62.6 percent of his passes for 2,627 yards, 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions this season.
Additionally, the Jets are 0-5 in situations where Rodgers has the ball and needs to run a winning drive, according to NFL reporter Connor Hughes..
It’s unclear what’s in store for Rodgers, as rumors suggest he wants to play in the NFL next season, but not for Gang Green.
But Belichick has seen quarterbacks in the later stages of their careers still find success. In fact, he coached the greatest to ever coach: Tom Brady.
“That’s one of the hardest things to do as a coach in professional football: determine when the time is or isn’t right,” Belichick said. ‘One thing you sometimes run into with players as they get older in their career is the injury factor.
“And sometimes players can suffer an injury later in their career and make it look like it’s an age problem when it was actually an injury problem.” And then, once that injury goes away, there will be a lot more good football left in that player.”
Next season will be a complete overhaul for the Jets as they will need to choose a new head coach and general manager.